SA Photonics awarded Blackjack payload contract
SA Photonics on 9 June was awarded a $16.36 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the Blackjack Track A (payload) Phases 2 and 3 programmes.
The contracting agency is the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the contract is being financed through the FY2020 research and development funds.
The company is due to complete the project work by March 2021 and will work at locations in Los Gatos and Redwood, California.
Blackjack aims to develop the critical elements needed for a global high-speed network in low-Earth orbit which is capable of providing the DoD with persistent and reliable coverage. Participants are expected to develop and demonstrate payloads which will support National Security Space assets including commercial manufacturing processes for their final product.
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