The U.S. Space Development Agency (SDA) has shared some exciting updates about a big project they’re working on—using satellites in space to improve military communications and missile tracking. These updates came from Dr. Derek Tournear, the SDA’s director, who spoke at a major Air and Space Forces conference near Washington, D.C.

What’s the Big Idea?

The SDA is working on making it possible for satellites to communicate with military forces on Earth in real time, even across long distances. One key part of this involves a system called Link 16, which allows the U.S. and its allies to share important information quickly. Normally, Link 16 works with radios on the ground or in the air, but now, the SDA is testing how to use satellites to make this communication even faster and more reliable.

How Are They Doing It?

The SDA is using satellites from a company called York Space Systems to test this new approach. Back in November 2023, they sent data from space to Earth using these satellites. This happened in low Earth orbit (LEO), which is relatively close to Earth, and involved multiple satellites working together to send messages down to a ground test site in one of the Five Eyes countries (the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand).

They had several successful tests, showing that data could be sent from space, synchronized properly, and received by military forces on Earth. Another company, Lockheed Martin, has also launched satellites for this project.

Why Is This a Big Deal?

Traditionally, Link 16 radios on Earth have a limited range of about 200-300 nautical miles because of line-of-sight restrictions. But putting satellites in space removes that problem. These satellites can send and receive information globally, providing continuous communication beyond the line of sight. This means that military forces can be connected almost anywhere on the planet, and they’ll always have access to real-time information—something crucial in the heat of battle.

Dr. Tournear said the tests so far have been very promising, with nearly 100% success in connecting and sending messages from space to different platforms like aircraft carriers and planes.

The Future: More Satellites, Longer Contact

Right now, the SDA’s satellites can keep a Link 16 connection for about 10 minutes at a time. But in the next phase, they plan to launch more than 100 satellites (called Tranche 1) that will allow for much longer contact periods. This will ensure that at any given time, there will always be multiple satellites overhead ready to provide communication links. This kind of global coverage could dramatically improve how military forces operate.

Enter Laser Communication

The SDA is also testing something even cooler—laser communications. Using lasers, satellites can “talk” to each other and to ground stations, planes, and ships. Lasers can send a lot of data really fast and are much harder for enemies to jam or intercept. The SDA has already tested this and found that their laser links can last for over 24 hours at a time, with only brief interruptions that are fixed in under two minutes. This is a big improvement over older systems.

What’s Next for Laser Links?

Dr. Tournear shared that the next step is to show that their satellites can pass data between each other using a mesh network—a technology similar to what SpaceX’s Starlink satellites use. Eventually, they hope their satellites will even be able to link up with SpaceX’s, creating a massive, interconnected system in space.

Satellite Missile Tracking: A Game Changer

In addition to communications, these satellites will also be able to track missiles. Dr. Tournear confirmed that the SDA has already tracked several missile launches using this new system, including small, short-range ballistic missiles and larger missile tests. This is especially important because advanced missile threats are becoming more common in conflicts around the world, such as in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Imagine being able to track a missile from space and send that information to military commanders in almost real-time. This would give them the critical seconds or minutes needed to respond and defend against an attack.

Building the Space-Based System

The next big phase of this project will involve even more satellites. The SDA plans to launch 128 new satellites that will handle communications, missile tracking, and more. This will happen between 2024 and 2025, and once complete, the system will be fully operational.

While building this new space-based network isn’t cheap—each satellite costs around $15 million—Tournear is confident that the benefits will outweigh the costs. With many smaller satellites instead of a few big ones, this system will be more resilient to attacks, making it a key part of future U.S. military strategy.

What Does This Mean for the Future?

Once this system is fully up and running, it could transform how military forces communicate and defend themselves. Satellites will provide constant, reliable communications anywhere on Earth, even in the most remote or hostile environments. They will also help track and respond to missile threats in real time, which could be a game-changer in modern warfare.

The SDA’s work on space-based Link 16 systems, laser communications, and missile tracking could mark the beginning of a new era in military technology, giving U.S. and allied forces a significant advantage in future conflicts.