"Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman Secure $1.5 Billion Contract for 72 Satellites from Space Development Agency"

The Space Development Agency (SDA) has awarded contracts worth $1.5 billion to Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman to build and operate 72 satellites as part of the Tranche 2 Transport Layer, a mesh network of military satellites in low Earth orbit. These satellites will provide global communications access and regional encrypted connectivity to support warfighter missions. The first set of satellites is projected to launch in September 2026, with additional satellites planned for acquisition. The SDA uses a commercial-like model to incrementally add new technologies, in contrast to the traditional method of large-scale acquisitions. Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman have become the largest awardees of SDA satellite contracts, with Lockheed Martin winning contracts for 88 satellites and Northrop Grumman winning orders for 92 satellites to date.