The US Space Development Agency (SDA) is building a new network of up to a thousand reconnaissance satellites to address emerging threats such as hypersonic cruise missiles. Germany’s Mynaric is one of only a few companies worldwide that has been awarded contracts to supply the laser communication terminals, which will provide the vital links between satellites in this new network. Mynaric’s recent announcement that it has opened a new production hall near Munich with a production rate target of 2,000 units per year sets it apart from its competitors and places it in a good position to win follow-on business as the SDA and other programmes ramp up.
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#1 The US government is building a new constellation of hundreds of spy satellites to track emerging threats like hypersonic cruise missiles: The US is investing in a new network of up to a thousand reconnaissance satellites. This network will potentially give a better response to emerging threats such as hypersonic cruise missiles by providing real-time information and global coverage instead of the incomplete data decision makers receive at present.
#2 Laser communications needed to deliver broadband speed between satellites: All of the several hundred data-relay satellites in the SDA’s new constellation will have laser communications terminals connecting them to their nearest neighbours. Using free-space laser links, which are Mynaric’s speciality, rather than conventional microwave links will boost the speed of transmission by at least two orders of magnitude, giving connectivity speeds faster than those achievable with radio frequency communication.
#3 Adoption of volume production methodologies essential to meet government timescales: By 2026, the SDA’s new satellite constellation will potentially deploy several hundred satellites in low earth orbit. The government is requiring contractors working on the project to shift from process methodologies developed for hand-crafting large, expensive, one-off spacecraft to the volume production methodologies needed to deliver hundreds of smaller, less expensive satellites in a short time frame. While this is a complete change for established industry players, this approach is natural for Mynaric, whose central premise is the design of terminals for high volume manufacture.
#4 Satellite industry newcomer Mynaric has already secured contracts to supply optical communications terminals for the SDA and other programmes: Despite being a relatively new entrant to the satellite payload market, Mynaric is one of only a few companies awarded contracts to supply a new type of laser communications terminals linking satellites in low earth orbit for the demonstration phase of the SDA’s satellite network and the precursor government programme, Blackjack.
#5 Mynaric is well placed to take market-share as successive phases of the SDA’s network are launched: Mynaric is rising to the challenge of manufacturing laser communications terminals in the quantity and at the speed required for the US government’s ambitious programmes. It plans to construct around 50 terminals during 2021, which is more than any other vendor has announced as production target for the year. Mynaric has recently opened a new production hall near Munich with a production rate target of 2,000 units per year. This sets it apart from its competitors and places it in a good position to win follow-on business as the SDA and other programmes ramp-up.
Mynaric is a client of Edison Group
To understand Mynaric in more detail, read Anne Margaret Crow’s latest update here.
