Tranche 0

History

2023: Launch of satellites for system operation

On March 29, 2023, the US Department of Defense (DoD) announced the launch of satellites of a new missile warning system for the US Space Force.

We are talking about the Tranche 0 mission, which is being implemented as part of the first stage of the large-scale program Proliferated Warfighter of the Space Development Agency of the Ministry of Defense (SDA). The new tiered system will eventually bring together a large number of satellites responsible for global military communications as well as missile tracking. Another function of the platform will be to target land and sea targets beyond line of sight.

Tranche 0 Mission Operation Diagram

The Tranche 0 mission involves putting 28 spacecraft into orbit in the form of two groups. The first will include 10 satellites - eight so-called "transport levels" (will ensure the transmission of all kinds of data) and two more "tracking levels" (designed to track missiles). The second group will be withdrawn in June 2023: it will combine 12 satellites of the "transport level" and 6 devices of the "tracking level."

The company is responsible for launching the satellites. SpaceX Elona Musk For this purpose carrier rocket 9 Falcon with reusable first stage is used. In the future, SDA plans to launch new groups of spacecraft into orbit approximately every two years. In total, hundreds of satellites for various purposes are expected to be combined as part of the National Defense Space Architecture (NDSA) - a specialized low-Earth orbit constellation for military sensing and data transmission.

In general, the space architecture of Proliferated Warfighter provides for the deployment of seven levels. This is, in particular, a mesh network of optically connected satellites forming a "transport layer." In addition, there are levels of tracking, supervision, navigation, deterrence, combat management and support.^[1]

Notes