Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman secure $1.5 billion contract for satellite development

The Pentagon's Space Development Agency (SDA) has awarded contracts worth $1.5 billion to Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman for the development of prototype communications satellites. The 72 satellites will be part of the Tranche 2 Transport Layer constellation, aimed at providing encrypted communications for the U.S. military. The satellites are scheduled to launch by September 2026. The SDA's network also aims to provide missile warning and tracking capabilities, contributing to the Department of Defense's Joint All-Domain Command and Control project.