Space-based Threat Detection Security is Getting Smarter

Smart home security systems integrate internet-connected doorbells, locks, carbon monoxide detectors and alarm systems in order to provide a comprehensive and centralized monitoring solution. This allows homeowners to receive instant alerts about their home's security status, whether they are physically present or remotely accessing the system through a smartphone app.

This concept is making its way to space.

In September, Lockheed Martin's 21 Tranche 1 Transport Layer (T1TL) satellites started to arrive at its Astrotech Space Operations facility, where they will be stacked and encapsulated in preparation for launch. Once on-orbit, the satellites will become part of the Transport Layer for the Space Development Agency's (SDA) Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA).

The T1TL satellites follow the Tranche 0 Transport Layer (T0TL) demonstration space vehicles that launched in 2023; which provided learning for T1TL. With T1TL, the satellites will provide operational mission capability, providing real-time support to the warfighter.

"These Transport Layer satellites will provide resilient and low-latency military data worldwide, including Link-16 connectivity from space," said Adrián Cuadra, Transport Layer programs director at Lockheed Martin. "We're adapting and going faster. We leveraged our vast space heritage to ensure mission success, but we also invested in commonality, affordability, and scalability for small satellite production to deliver this mission at speed."

Each satellite incorporates a Terran Orbital bus, SmartSat™, and Link 16, which will enable sensor-to-shooter capabilities by connecting systems that include multiple tactical data links.

How the satellites were built - digital at the core: Lockheed Martin built the T1TL space vehicles at its Satellite Processing and Delivery (SPD) Center, incorporating the latest technology and production techniques. These include:

• Developing a digital twin of the factory simulating full production flow to streamline operations.

• Creating full-scale 3D-printed mockups of satellites allowing the team to dry-run processes and making sure that every procedure, every configuration, and every movement was right, before the first satellite was built.

• Deploying automation in test, allowing 24x7 testing of the space vehicles, even when no humans are around, and accelerating the overall production flow.

Zoom out - What is the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA)?: The PWSA is a network of hundreds of data transport and missile tracking satellites, grouped in layers known as Tracking and Transport.

• Data transport satellites in the Transport Layer act as a data transfer network, similar to the internet. These satellites enhance the ability to rapidly share data, enable joint force operations, and provide seamless connectivity across land, sea and air. They also include communications links for tactical users.

• Missile tracking satellites in the Tracking Layer work similar to a geo-fenced alarm system.

In action, when a missile tracking satellite identifies a missile threat, the information is routed through the data transport satellites for rapid alert and response.

The big picture: At its core, next generation space architectures will serve as a layered defense shield, which hinges on the capacity for advanced early warning, sensing and rapid response. The PWSA provides this, with its persistent surveillance and tracking of real time threats as they emerge

The bottom line: The development of the data transport satellites establishes a foundation for Lockheed Martin Space's proliferated small satellite approach, driving innovation and speed in production.

By pushing the boundaries of small satellite production, Lockheed Martin is breaking down barriers and pioneering techniques that can be applied across the company, enabling faster and more agile development of future space-based systems.