Lockheed Martin’s Pony Express 2 Tech Demo Satellites Declared Ready For Launch

Lockheed Martin said its Pony Express 2 technology demonstration mission is ready for launch.

Pony Express 2 comprises two small satellites installed on two Terran Orbital Renegade space vehicles to provide tactical communications systems, a Ka-band crosslink and mesh network and precision relative ranging and time synchronization. The mission will demonstrate enhanced connectivity for warfighters, autonomous satellite and agile operations, artificial intelligence-enabled troubleshooting and mission flexibility.

Pony Express 2, slated for launch as early as March, is designed to demonstrate how space technologies can enhance the Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control concept, Lockheed said Thursday.

Maria Demaree, vice president and general manager of Lockheed National Security Space, a 2024 Wash100 awardee and a 4×24 member, said Pony Express 2 demonstrates the company’s ability to ensure that warfighters maintain space-based connectivity across all domains regardless of battlefield conditions and give the United States and its allies information superiority.

Meanwhile, other companies are also demonstrating their capabilities involving CJADC2 and other space-based applications.

Earlier in February, Aalyria demonstrated how its Spacetime network orchestration software platform enables CJADC2 and the Hybrid Space Architecture for secure and low-latency mesh communications for civilian and defense applications. Chris Taylor, CEO of Aalyria, said the demonstration marks the first time that HSA and CJADC2 capabilities were tested in all domains and orbits.