A rendering of the Maxar 300 bus in the SDA’s Tranche 1 Tracking Layer. Photo: Maxar Technologies

Maxar Technologies’ new satellite bus, called the Maxar 300 series, has completed its first critical design review (CDR), the company announced Monday. 

Maxar is developing this satellite bus to support L3Harris on its contract for the Space Development Agency’s Tranche 1 Tracking Layer missile warning constellation. Maxar is building 16 satellites for L3Harris.

The original announcement was for 14 buses, but SDA later ordered an additional two from L3Harris, an L3Harris representative confirmed to Via Satellite. The two additional were awarded in September 2022 as part of a demonstration that expands upon the original T1TRK contract.

14 buses in the order were previously announced, and Maxar representative confirmed to Via Satellite that satellites 15 and 16 will have a missile tracking demonstration that was not previously announced.

Maxar formally announced the bus in April along with a rebrand of its satellite portfolio. It is the company’s smallest and most modular bus, described as the “width of a conventional oven.” The company said the inaugural Maxar 300 series bus is designed for eight or more space vehicles per launch, with the low jitter and high power required for the missile defense mission.

Maxar is building the 300 series in California. The CDR examined all the principal elements of the new system, including structural design, power, attitude control and command and data handling. 

“We designed the Maxar 300 series platform to be quickly scalable,” said Chris Johnson, senior vice president and general manager for Space at Maxar. “The team completed CDR just 10 months from award, and we’re on schedule to begin production of our platforms later this year with initial deliveries in early 2024. Our customers need speed and agility while ensuring a superior technical product, and that’s what Maxar’s commercial experience can deliver.”

Editor’s note: This story has been updated with information on the additional two satellites from L3Harris.