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What’s new: Space Development Agency seems to be backing off its plans for LEO PNT.
Why it’s important:
- This could signal SDA and DOD de-emphasizing PNT overall. Note that Space Force’s R-GPS is not yet a program.
- On the other hand, the “D” in SDA stands for “development.” This announcement could be a recognition by SDA that LEO PNT is already being done by others, including commercial interests. For example, RNT Foundation members Trustpoint and Xona are well on their ways to establishing constellations. So, perhaps there is no need for SDA to develop something also.
What else to know: LEO PNT is an increasingly popular pursuit. We have lost count of the number of government and commercial initiatives around the world. Just yesterday, for example, we saw an announcement by a company in India that they will establish a service.
Space Development Agency pauses plans to provide PNT capabilities
SDA was looking to build out PNT capabilities in the Tranche 3 transport layer of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture, which the Department of the Air Force is considering canceling.
