Terran Orbital delivers order for SDA’s Tranche 0 Transport Layer to Lockheed Martin. Photo: Terran Orbital

Terran Orbital delivered the final satellite buses to Lockheed Martin for its Space Development Agency (SDA) Tranche 0 Transport Layer contract. 

Terran Orbital built 10 buses for Lockheed as a subcontractor on Tranche 0. The Tranche 0 Transport Layer is part of the SDA’s National Defense Space Architecture (NDSA) and will provide secure high-bandwidth, low-latency data links for beyond-line-of-sight tracking, targeting, and communications.

“The delivery of all ten Tranche 0 satellite buses marks a key milestone, and we are excited to continue effective teamwork as Terran Orbital will also design and build the buses for Lockheed Martin’s SDA Tranche 1 Transport Layer satellites,” said Terran Orbital Co-Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer Marc Bell. “We are always thrilled to work with Lockheed Martin and look forward to delivering the Tranche 1 satellite buses.”

The Tranche 0 Transport Layer and Tracking Layer satellites were originally supposed to begin launching in September 2022, but delays have pushed back the launch. 

Terran Orbital will continue to support Lockheed Martin for the NDSA, with a contract to build 42 satellites for the Tranche 1 Transport Layer.