York Space Systems has achieved a significant milestone with the delivery of 21 satellites for the U.S. military, marking the largest batch the company has ever dispatched. This delivery, which took place on September 10, 2023, is part of the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Tranche 1 Transport Layer initiative. This network is integral to the Pentagon’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA), designed to enhance military data transport and missile warning capabilities.
Dirk Wallinger, CEO of York Space Systems, emphasized the importance of this achievement during a recent interview. “We’ve delivered constellations before,” he stated, “but none as visible as SDA’s program.” Previously, York’s largest delivery consisted of nine satellites for the initial phase of the PWSA, which launched in April 2023.
The company’s production capabilities have been significantly bolstered by years of investment and expansion. Founded in 2015 and based in Denver, York Space Systems opened a second factory to handle the growing demand from SDA contracts and commercial clients. Wallinger noted, “Both sites are now in ‘rapid production mode.’”
York’s proactive approach in securing contracts early on has paid off, as Wallinger explained, “We were lucky enough that SDA and other customers worked with us pretty early on, with some of these contracts five, six years ago.” This foresight has allowed the company to effectively scale its production capabilities, giving it an advantage over newer competitors who are just beginning to establish their manufacturing processes.
In the competitive landscape of satellite production, York Space Systems has already established itself as a leader. Other major players, such as Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, are also involved in the Tranche 1 Transport Layer, but York was the first to successfully orbit its satellites. The company is currently engaged in producing satellites for three separate SDA constellations.
The contract for the Tranche 1 Transport Layer totals $382 million and encompasses 42 satellites. With the first 21 now in orbit, the remaining 21 are expected to launch by the end of the year. Additionally, York is under contract to manufacture 12 satellites for the $200 million Tranche 1 Demonstration and Experimentation System (T1DES) and is set to produce 10 satellites for Tranche 2 Transport Layer Gamma, along with 62 satellites for Tranche 2 Transport Layer Alpha.
Wallinger highlighted the efficiency improvements in York’s production process, stating, “We went from eight months production for a single bird to, by the end of the plane, we were able to make a satellite within weeks.”
The company is also eyeing opportunities in the Pentagon’s next-generation missile defense program, known as Golden Dome. Valued at an estimated $175 billion, this program aims to enhance the U.S. defense against advanced missile threats and is a top priority for the current administration. The PWSA serves as a crucial foundation for Golden Dome’s space components, with various layers designed to ensure secure data transport and missile tracking.
York’s Dragoon experimental satellite, launched under the T1DES program in June 2023, is positioned as a proof of concept for secure connectivity in military operations. Wallinger expressed optimism about the synergies between York’s existing capabilities and the requirements of the Golden Dome program, stating, “Hopefully there’s a lot of synergies there.”
Looking ahead, the urgency of deploying effective systems by 2028 places York Space Systems in a strategic position to leverage its advancements in satellite technology to address emerging threats.