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The world of military space technology is undergoing a fundamental transformation that is changing the very paradigm of space defense. The recent successful tests of communications between York Space Systems and SpaceX satellites mark an important stage in the development of the new US space defense architecture.
Traditionally, missile attack warning systems have relied on a small number of large, complex and expensive satellites. This approach, although it ensured the high functionality of individual devices, created vulnerabilities: the loss of even one satellite could significantly weaken the entire system. The new Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) program offers a radically different approach, similar to the transition from a few powerful supercomputers to a distributed network of smaller but interconnected systems.
On January 9, a landmark event took place: York Space Systems' Tranche 0 Transport satellite successfully transmitted data to SpaceX's Tranche 0 Tracking satellite via laser communication terminals. This achievement is particularly important because it demonstrates the possibility of seamless communication between devices from different manufacturers - a key requirement for creating a truly distributed system.
Switching to laser communication instead of traditional radio frequency is not just a technical improvement. Optical communication provides significantly higher data rates, which is critical for early warning systems where every second can count. To implement this concept, the US Space Development Agency involved leading manufacturers: in addition to SpaceX and York Space Systems, such giants of the defense industry as Lockheed Martin and L3Harris Technologies participate in the program.
The planned expansion of the system by 150 satellites as part of the Tranche 1 program this year reflects the urgent need to modernize space defense systems. This is especially true given the progress of Russia and China in the development of hypersonic weapons, which creates new challenges for traditional detection systems.
The parallel development of the Chinese megaconstellation Guowan, which is positioned as a competitor to Starlink, emphasizes the global nature of competition in the space sphere. This situation resembles the beginning of a new space race, but now in the field of distributed satellite systems.
The success of the PWSA program could be a turning point in the development of space defense systems, demonstrating the transition from centralized to distributed architectures. Such an evolution not only increases the system's resistance to possible attacks, but also creates the basis for a more flexible and adaptive response to new threats in outer space.
