Airbus to Provide 42 Satellite Platforms to Northrop for U.S. Space Development Agency Program

Airbus will provide 42 satellite platforms as well as assembly, integration, and test (AIT), launch, and space vehicle commissioning support services to Northrop Grumman to satisfy the U.S. Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Tranche 1 Transport Layer prototype constellation (T1TL) award.

The Transport Layer will serve as the backbone for SDA’s National Defense Space Architecture by providing assured, resilient, low-latency military data and connectivity worldwide to a full range of defense applications.

Derived from the flight-proven ARROW platform, the Airbus U.S. solution expands on its commoditized satellite bus design providing more power and a larger payload accommodation. This modular solution offers a scalable 300-500 kg bus for the Northrop Grumman payload and future U.S. Government missions.

Airbus U.S. has designed a highly adaptable spacecraft platform and will utilize Airbus OneWeb Satellites (AOS), the Airbus U.S. and OneWeb joint venture in Merritt Island, FL, to assemble it using their production line. This line is currently delivering up to two satellites per day to OneWeb. AOS achieves this industry-leading result through its mature supply chain and manufacturing approach. To date, this facility has already produced over 400 of the 648 satellites on order for OneWeb.