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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

SASC’s FY ‘27 NDAA Sticks With Army’s Plan For Legacy Aviation Procurement Cuts

The Senate Armed Services Committee’s (SASC) version of the next defense policy sticks to the Army’s proposed plan to cut procurement of its legacy aviation fleet, and does not authorize […]

Congress

SASC Approves $1.14 Trillion FY ‘27 NDAA With ‘Right to Repair’ Reform, Stock Buyback Restriction

The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) has approved its $1.14 trillion version of the next defense policy bill, adopting “right to repair” reform to provide the military services’ greater ability […]

Congress

House Appropriators Unveil $1.07 Trillion FY ‘27 Defense Bill, Restore Funds For E-7, Army Aviation

House appropriators on Wednesday released their $1.07 trillion fiscal year 2027 defense spending bill, with the legislation reversing Army aviation cuts, restoring funding for the Air Force’s E-7 Wedgetail program […]

Congress

MOSA Implementation By Pentagon Lagging, GAO Official Says

While the Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) has been a requirement for major defense acquisition programs since January 2019 and other Defense Department acquisitions since January 2021, few programs are […]