Mbryonics, an Irish-based company, has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to deliver an optical terminal for the second phase of the Space-BACN program. Space-BACN is a program initiated by the U.S. Department of Defense to promote interoperable technologies that facilitate seamless communication between government and commercial Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations.
Mbryonics previously participated in Phase 1 of the program, which was awarded in August 2022. The company successfully completed Phase 1 within 14 months. Mbryonics specializes in optical inter-satellite links and Earth links, offering a product line called StarCom.
For Phase 2, Mbryonics will be responsible for designing and delivering an optical terminal. Over a 21-month performance period, the company will collaborate with modem and satellite constellation operators to expedite the development of inter-satellite communications capable of connecting LEO constellations using different communications protocols.
John Mackey, CEO of Mbryonics, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating that it aligns with the Space-BACN vision of establishing seamless interconnectivity between government and commercial systems. He emphasized the importance of fortifying a resilient space layer for Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) operations. Mackey believes that this contract award solidifies Mbryonics’ position as a leader in industrial-edge optical communications and validates their strategy of pioneering fiber-coupled photonic systems.
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