SDA Selects Three Companies to Conduct LEO Backhaul Service Studies for Transport Layer

The Space Development Agency has awarded SpaceX, Kuiper Government Solutions and Aalyria Technologies contracts worth $1.6 million in total to conduct 90-day studies that would inform the SDA on existing or planned commercial technologies for low-Earth orbit backhaul services.

According to the SDA, the studies involve connecting LEO satellite systems to the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture to identify LEO backhaul capabilities that can add capacity to the missile-warning constellation and support high bandwidth data transport.

The SDA’s solicitation document stated that it is looking for a 500 Gbps backhaul capability with an overall system latency of under 100ms for integration into the PWSA’s Transport Layer, a constellation for military data transmission and connectivity. The backhaul service should enable connectivity for up to 1,000 terrestrial users at the 2 to 10 Gbps rate and support between 20,000 to 40,000 users at the 100Mbps to 500 Mbps rate, Via Satellite reported.

The SDA said it is interested in backhaul services that use commercial, optically interconnected orbital mesh networks and ground infrastructure.