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Satellite tv for pc producer Apex introduced it plans to launch a space-based missile interceptor demonstration subsequent summer time—the newest firm to unveil plans to prototype expertise that would contribute to the Pentagon’s Golden Dome missile protection challenge.
The Los Angeles-based agency mentioned it’s going to self-fund an indication of an interceptor host platform known as Orbital Journal. For the mission, Apex will equip considered one of its personal Nova satellites with a software-defined radio that may transmit and obtain navy communications and can present energy, warmth, and environmental help for the interceptors.
CEO Ian Cinnamon instructed Air & House Forces Journal the demonstration, which the corporate is looking “Mission Shadow,” is much less concerning the interceptors—which won’t be reside—and extra about proving the enabling expertise works. Whereas Apex is angling for a task in Golden Dome, the hassle isn’t only a gross sales pitch, he mentioned, however an opportunity to mature expertise the U.S. navy has mentioned is central to homeland protection.
The agency has invested $15 million within the challenge and is partnering with others in business, although Cinnamon declined to establish its collaborators.
“We wish to mature the tech to verify this factor really works,” Cinnamon mentioned. “Then, after all, as giant primes and system integrators who know easy methods to construct these interceptors bid on it, we go to them and say, ‘Pay attention, we’re actually good on the Orbital Journal. We’ve already confirmed it in orbit. Let’s collaborate.’”
He estimated the unit price for Orbital Journal will vary from round $6 million to almost $10 million, relying on portions and the configuration, noting that considered one of Apex’s high-power Comet spacecraft can carry as much as six interceptors. The Pentagon hasn’t mentioned what number of interceptors it expects to want, however specialists have estimated the constellation may require 1000’s to supply enough protection.
Apex is a newcomer to the protection scene. The agency drew consideration final yr when it introduced a partnership with Anduril to supply satellite tv for pc buses for the protection tech firm’s future navy house payloads. Earlier this month, Apex opened a brand new manufacturing unit with the capability to construct as much as 200 satellites per yr and plans to scale past that as demand arises.
Mission Shadow would be the debut mission for the agency’s Nova satellite tv for pc, and Cinnamon mentioned Apex has orders from quite a lot of prospects which can be on monitor for supply quickly after its first flight.
The corporate is considered one of many who plans to vie for a chunk of the large Golden Dome challenge, which President Donald Trump has mentioned will price no less than $175 billion over the subsequent three years. Because the administration and Pentagon officers hammer out the small print of the multi-domain structure behind closed doorways, corporations giant and small have been fast to publicly tout expertise they are saying could possibly be an excellent match for the hassle.
That features protection prime Lockheed Martin, which introduced in August it might launch a space-based interceptor demonstration in 2028. The corporate says it has additionally established a prototyping middle in Virginia to check space-based missile protection ideas and get after a few of the program’s largest challenges, like easy methods to handle the community of methods that may make up Golden Dome.
Throughout a Lockheed earnings name Oct. 21, CEO Jim Taiclet mentioned that together with proving new expertise and ideas, the corporate is trying inside its present product strains for tactics to scale manufacturing in help of the missile protection mission.
“We’re quickly rising manufacturing capability throughout the missiles, sensors, battle administration methods, and satellite tv for pc integration alternatives that will probably be immediately related to realize the overarching goal of Golden Dome,” Taiclet instructed traders.
In the meantime, executives at Northrop Grumman say the agency has already begun testing space-based interceptors on the bottom and offering “high-fidelity operational evaluation” to the Pentagon.
CEO Kathy Warden mentioned throughout the agency’s personal earnings name she expects extra particulars on the structure quickly, which is able to assist form Northrop’s plans and monetary projections.
“I believe you’ll see extra readability coming from the division as they share extra data on that structure and plan within the coming months,” Warden mentioned.
Audio of this text is dropped at you by the Air & House Forces Affiliation, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their households. Discover out extra at afa.org