Artistic rendition of DARPA's Blackjack program.
Image is courtesy of DARPA.

DARPA has awarded Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) a $5.8 million contract for the first phase of satellite integration on the Blackjack program.

Lockheed Martin will define and manage interfaces between Blackjack’s bus, payload and Pit Boss, the company's autonomous, space-based command and data processor. Additional scope includes testbed validation of internal and external vehicle interfaces.

DARPA’s Blackjack program aims to develop and demonstrate the critical elements for a global high-speed network in LEO that provides the Department of Defense (DoD) with highly connected, autonomous, resilient and persistent coverage employing multiple payload types and missions. Future phases of Blackjack are expected to include build, test, and launch of a demonstration constellation in 2021-2022.

Program work will primarily be performed in Sunnyvale, California.

Sarah Reeves, VP of Missile Defense Programs at Lockheed Martin, said the company has built and integrated a variety of payload types and sizes for every type of mission and we bring all of that experience to the Blackjack program. This is an exciting new approach to plug-n-play design for LEO and the company is ready for this challenge.