DARPA has awarded Lockheed Martin a $5.8 million contract for the first phase of satellite integration on the Blackjack program.

Lockheed Martin will define and manage interfaces between Blackjack's bus, payload and Pit Boss - its autonomous, space-based command and data processor. Additional scope includes testbed validation of internal and external vehicle interfaces. Program work will primarily be performed in Sunnyvale, California.

"Lockheed Martin has built and integrated a variety of payload types and sizes for every type of mission and we bring all of that experience to the Blackjack program," said Sarah Reeves, vice president of Missile Defense Programs at Lockheed Martin. "This is an exciting new approach to plug-n-play design for LEO and we are up for the challenge."

DARPA's Blackjack program aims to develop and demonstrate the critical elements for a global high-speed network in low earth orbit (LEO) that provides the Department of Defense with highly connected, autonomous, resilient, and persistent coverage employing multiple payload types and missions.

Future phases of Blackjack are expected to include build, test, and launch of a demonstration constellation in 2021-2022.

Related Links
Lockheed Martin's
Read the latest in Military Space Communications Technology at SpaceWar.com

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

US Space Force pens $1B in contracts for unjammable modems
Washington DC (Sputnik) Apr 06, 2020
The US Space Force (USSF) has awarded two $500 million contracts to develop and produce satellite communications modems secure from enemy jamming. On Monday, the USSF's Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) announced that L3Harris and Raytheon had each received $500 million contracts to develop Protected Tactical Waveform-capable modems for the US Army and the Department of the Air Force, of which the USSF is a part. The modems are part of the Air Force and Army Anti-Jam Modem (A3M) program ... read more