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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

Key Defense Committee Members Face Tight Midterm Races, Including HASC GOP’ers In Virginia

As the mid-term elections near with polls showing an increasing likelihood of a switch in majority control in the House and potentially the Senate, three Virginia Republicans on the House […]

‘Theoretical Potential’ to Achieve 1,509 Combat-Coded Fighters by 2035, USAF Says

In the latest U.S. Air Force fighter force structure report submitted to Congress, the service speaks of a “theoretical potential” to achieve a goal of 1,509 combat-coded fighters in the […]

Budget

Hegseth Pushes For Reconciliation With At Least $350 Billion For Defense ‘Regardless’ Of Midterms Outcome

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday the Trump administration plans to continue its push for at least $350 billion in defense funds via the reconciliation process “regardless of what happens […]

Congress

Bipartisan Push in Senate to Hasten Export of 155 mm, GMLRS, HIMARS for Ukraine

A small, bipartisan group of senators is backing the Fast Tracking European Investment in Ukraine’s Defense Act, S. 5175, to hasten the export of allied buys of U.S. munitions for […]