York Space Systems Secures Contract for 10 Satellites in SDA's Tranche 2 Transport Layer Gamma

York Space Systems Secures Contract for 10 Satellites in SDA's Tranche 2 Transport Layer Gamma
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Aug 17, 2024

York Space Systems (York), a Denver-based aerospace company known for its rapid deployment of comprehensive space mission solutions, has been awarded a new contract by the Space Development Agency (SDA) to develop and deliver 10 satellites for the Tranche 2 Transport Layer Gamma (T2TL-Gamma) of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA). These satellites, scheduled for launch in 2027, are integral to bolstering the Department of Defense's (DoD) Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2) capabilities.

The T2TL-Gamma satellites will feature advanced technology, including four optical communication terminals (OCTs) and an enhanced warfighting payload. These optically-linked satellites are critical to SDA's goal of building a resilient, low-cost, and widely distributed space architecture that improves communications and missile tracking.

"York Space Systems is proud to continue its partnership with the SDA in delivering innovative and satellite solutions," said Melanie Preisser, executive vice president and general manager of York. "Our team's proven track record, including the successful development and launch of satellites for SDA's Tranche 0 and upcoming Tranche 1 layers, positions us to meet the challenging requirements of the T2TL-Gamma program and further advance the DoD's space capabilities."

York has a solid history of working with SDA, having previously developed, delivered, and launched nine satellites for Tranche 0 of the PWSA. Under a $94 million contract awarded in August 2020, York successfully produced and deployed these satellites in just over 2.5 years, marking a major accomplishment for the U.S. Space Force.

Currently, York is manufacturing 42 satellites for Tranche 1 of the PWSA, which are expected to launch in late 2024, along with 12 additional experimental satellites as part of the Tranche 1 Demonstration and Experimentation System (T1DES) program, scheduled for launch in 2025. Recently, York secured another contract to deliver 62 satellites for the Tranche 2 Transport Layer Alpha variant, with a launch set for 2026.

"The Space Development Agency continues to lead from the front and forge the path the rest of the world is now following: robust and scalable space infrastructure at groundbreaking cost," said Dirk Wallinger, CEO of York. "Their competitive approach of maximizing the use of commercial, 'commodity' satellite systems, subsystems, and components for all of its various mission needs is the best way to maintain the U.S.'s industrial leadership in space. We are honored again to be chosen as a supplier and mission partner in another of their groundbreaking initiatives."