Airbus to provide small, cheap satellites for experimental US military network

Airbus will develop small, low-cost satellites for an experimental US military network after winning a contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa).

The contract is related to the Blackjack programme, which aims to prove the military use of low Earth orbit constellations of small, light satellites costing about $6m in total, including launch – instead of $1bn-plus geostationary craft, stuck in a single position much higher above the Earth. Craft in low Earth orbit could provide much more flexible, reactive cover than previous technology.

European aerospace giant Airbus will work with partner OneWeb Satellites in Florida to provide the satellite ‘buses’ – bodies of the devices that provide power and propulsion, control alignment, transmit telemetry information, and provide platforms for military sensors and payloads.

Darpa hopes to launch 20 prototype satellites by 2021, a Space.com report said last year. According to the website, Paul Thomas from the agency’s tactical technology office said the constellation is likely to include missile warning and defence capabilities, and to augment the GPS navigation network.

“Airbus has previously co-invested hundreds of millions of dollars in high-rate manufacturing technology and supply-chain logistics to build large constellations of small satellites,” said Tim Deaver, director of US space programmes at Airbus Defence and Space. “Airbus is committed to growing manufacturing capability in the US and our government customers can leverage this commercial capability to develop low Earth orbit constellations to complement large existing systems.”

OneWeb Satellites uses a modular design and “agile” serial production to reduce costs and timescales, said Airbus. “We have created a game-changer with our overall design, supply chain and production system,” said Tony Gingiss, chief executive of OneWeb Satellites. “Our team is transforming the space industry.”