CACI International announced that it has successfully completed the Optical Communication Terminal (OCT) Interoperability Testing (OIT) of its CrossBeam OCT for the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Tranche 1 data relay and tracking network. As part of this testing, CACI was the first SDA-compliant terminal to successfully establish a consistent data communication link with the reference modem.

“Our proven, mature, and low-risk technology, combined with our advancements in scalable, U.S.-based manufacturing capacity, will rapidly transform sensing and communications for national security missions,” said Todd Probert, President of National Security and Innovative Solutions at CACI. “Our innovations in optical communications help the SDA build the foundation of future warfighting infrastructure and resilient networks across all domains.”

The testing was done with SDA as part of a team led by Lockheed Martin to build 42 satellites for SDA's Tranche 1 Transport Layer (T1TL), a mesh network of 126 optically interconnected space vehicles that will provide a resilient, low-latency, high-volume data transport communication system slated for launch in late 2024. The T1TL will provide global communications access and deliver persistent regional encrypted connectivity in support of warfighter missions around the globe, serving as the backbone for the Department of Defense’s Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2) effort.

This successful testing demonstrates performance to the version 3.0 standard and allows the CrossBeam OCT to move forward with OIT with optical payloads, thereby verifying interoperability in support of SDA’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture constellation of tracking and transport satellites.

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