Fred Kennedy, director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency‘s Tactical Technology Office, has said efforts to reorganize the space architecture and procure new technologies align with plans to modernize the military space business, Space News reported Monday.
Kennedy noted at an SMi Group-hosted event that the proposed Space Development Agency will possibly handle space projects like Blackjack, which aims to launch 20 small satellites in low-Earth orbit to help streamline the pace of military space missions.
The proposed agency is also expected to install commercial technologies on military systems.
DARPA is also administering a competition for small launch vehicle providers and a development project for a satellite-serving robot.
Kennedy added that Blackjack can potentially advance the capabilities of megaconstellations in LEO compared to existing networks.
DARPA and the U.S. Air Force are currently coordinating plans to accelerate the Blackjack program.