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Space

18 Rocket Lab Satellites for SDA to Carry Standard Tactical SATCOM Radios, As Agency Awaits Funding for Advanced Tactical Data Links

Frank Wolfe

Tuesday, January 9th, 2024

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18 Rocket Lab Satellites for SDA to Carry Standard Tactical SATCOM Radios, As Agency Awaits Funding for Advanced Tactical Data Links

Pictured are soldiers setting up scalable satellite nodes at Andersen AFB, Guam, on July 13, 2021 (U.S. Army Photo)

The 18 Rocket Lab USA [RKLB] satellites for the U.S. Space Force Space Development Agency's Tranche 2, Transport Layer (T2TL)-Beta are to have standard tactical satellite communications (SATCOM) links, as SDA looks to a future award for T2TL-Gamma satellites with advanced tactical data links. "The 18 space vehicles being purchased from Rocket Lab as part of T2TL-Beta will carry standard tactical SATCOM radios to enhance Tranche 2’s global coverage," SDA said in a Jan. 9 email. "Separately, SDA plans to…

Congress

HASC Wants Info On Army’s Plans To Pursue Autonomous Aerial Delivery, Surface Vessels For Logistics

The House Armed Services Committee (HASC) added several measures to its version of the next defense policy bill seeking more details from the Army on efforts to develop future logistics […]

Congress

McConnell: “Safe To Conclude There Will Not Be A Third Reconciliation Bill”

Two top GOP senators on the Senate Appropriations Committee are opposing a third reconciliation bill. The Trump administration’s total $1.5 trillion fiscal year 2027 defense request is split between $1.15 […]

Congress

HASC’s Final FY ‘27 NDAA Expands Systems Eligible For Multi-Years, Includes LTAMDS, IBCS, ARRW

House defense authorizers added a measure to their version of the next defense policy bill that would expand the list of weapons platforms eligible for multi-year contracts, to include the […]

Congress

HASC Bill Would Allow Air Force To Buy More Than 267 F-15EXs

The House Armed Services Committee’s (HASC) fiscal 2027 defense authorization bill would allow the Air Force to buy more than 267 F-15EX fighters by Boeing [BA] and would extend the […]