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SpaceX launched 21 satellites for the U.S. military on September 10 from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The flight marked the start of the Pentagon’s new low-Earth orbit communications and missile-tracking network, known as the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture.
The mission placed the first group of York Space Systems satellites into orbit. They form part of the Transport Layer, a planned fleet of 126 data relay satellites. When combined with 28 missile-tracking satellites, the initial phase will consist of 154 operational spacecraft and several demonstration units.
The network’s purpose is to connect U.S. forces worldwide through a secure, low-latency system. Using the Link 16 tactical data link, troops on the ground, at sea, and in the air can pass information beyond line of sight. Because the satellites orbit at about 1,000 kilometers, communication speed is faster than from higher orbits.
A key feature of the system is the use of optical inter-satellite links. Each spacecraft carries laser terminals that pass data between one another until it reaches a ground station. This creates a resilient mesh design that can continue functioning even if individual satellites fail.
The Pentagon’s Space Development Agency (SDA), created in 2019, is overseeing the program. Instead of relying on a few large satellites, the agency is deploying many smaller, cheaper ones. York received a $382 million contract in 2022, while Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman are building additional units for later launches. The average cost of each transport satellite is about $14 million.
The September launch is the first of 10 planned for Tranche 1. Six will carry transport satellites, and four will carry tracking satellites, with deployment expected to finish by 2026. The tracking spacecraft will be equipped with infrared sensors to detect missile launches, including hypersonic weapons.
Ground operations will be based in North Dakota and Alabama, supported by overseas stations. Initial tests will raise the satellites into their final orbits and verify systems before they are declared operational. The first units are expected to support U.S. forces in the Indo-Pacific, where long distances make satellite communications essential.
Military officials have compared the network to Starlink, SpaceX’s commercial internet system, which also uses low-Earth orbit satellites and laser crosslinks. The SDA’s version, however, is designed specifically for secure defense operations.
The spacecraft follow polar orbits, allowing global coverage, including high latitudes. If one fails, atmospheric drag ensures it will eventually burn up, reducing long-term debris risks. However, astronomers caution that tracking will be necessary to prevent interference with telescopes and other spacecraft.
By 2027, the full system is expected to provide secure communications and missile detection for real-world operations, reshaping how the U.S. military uses space-based technology.
