DeepSat - DAF X25.5 CSO Air Force Direct-to-Phase II (D2P2)

Phase II R&D project is a 400-satellite dual-use VLEO constellation of RedWire’s TRL-8 modular VLEO bus equipped with commercial payloads: Satlantis’ TRL-9 iSIM-170 dual sensor camera, Nvidia’s TRL-9 Jetson GPU, and a TRL-9 Starlink “Plug-and-Plaser” laser terminal.  In-orbit Precursor Mission will launch in 2Q2027. Our constellation will deliver near real-time, high-res imagery with global revisit times of under 30 mins. This persistent, rapid-revisit capability ensures the DAF can achieve enhanced situational awareness and timely decision-making in dynamic operational environments. Our solution addresses critical defense mission needs by providing an integrated, Earth observation capability specifically tailored for DAF. Leveraging a mature, commercial-grade technology base, our system is refined to meet the demands of modern ISR operations.  Our program objective is to provide end-user service access to a dual-use, low-risk, commercial high-TRL systems that provides quick to service capability for Defense and Commercial markets. The valuable VLEO orbit provides a low radiation environment to allow COTS components, high signal-to-noise ratio and greater cross-track slant angle collects. High-res optical payload delivers sub-meter ground sample distance (GSD) imagery across the VNIR and SWIR bands to ensure most nuanced features on the ground are captured with exceptional clarity. Additionally, our onboard AI/ML, powered by the NVIDIA Jetson AGX, enables real-time analytics with advanced object detection, change detection, and automated tip-and-que prioritization. This allows the system to automatically flag and prioritize mission-critical events, such as unidentified maritime vessels, infrastructure anomalies, or emerging wildfires, thereby accelerating the response cycle and enabling proactive mission planning. Secure and reliable communications are paramount to our Nation’s defense mission. Our solution integrates a dual-path comm architecture that combines high-bandwidth, secure laser communications with a proprietary bi-directional laser-comm system. This approach ensures that sensitive updates—including flight software patches and AI model enhancements—are transmitted securely and reliably, while providing interoperability with existing DAF command-and-control systems such as DCGS and JADC2.  Our solution is a viable application to identify and track numerous targets simultaneously in a time-compressed situation that will provide a measurable operational advantage to our warfighters with real-time situational awareness, and resilient and effective force employment for all Military Commands. Our system’s operational capabilities fulfill the needs of DAF’s OI 3 – Moving Target Engagement.  Comprehensive system meets the immediate operational requirements of DAF and provides a scalable and adaptable platform for future growth, with dual-use applications that extend to homeland security, disaster response, and other commercial sectors.