SEAKR Engineering Awarded $60M for DARPA's Blackjack Satellite Data Project

SEAKR Engineering Inc. has won Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)’s Blackjack contract valued $60.5 million.

The Blackjack program aims to demonstrate a global high-speed communications network in low-earth-orbit (LEO) to replace expensive geo-synchronous orbiting satellites that will provide the U.S. DoD connected, autonomous, and persistent coverage employing multiple payload types and missions.

“SEAKR Engineering Inc., has been awarded a $60.5 million contract for the Blackjack Pit Boss Phase Two and Phase Three program.  Work will be performed in Centennial, Colorado, with an estimated completion date of March 2022,” a recent U.S. DoD release said.

Last year, DARPA selected three teams, led by BAE Systems, SEAKR and Scientific Systems Company, to develop Pit Boss solutions.

SEAKR’s team included Microsoft, Applied Technology Associates, Advanced Solutions Inc, Kythera Space Solutions and NKryptPhase.

According to DARPA, Pit Boss will be able to take data collected by the satellites, process it on orbit and then disseminate that information to users or platforms on Earth without human input. It will be able to facilitate a number of functions, including augmenting position, navigation and timing capabilities, space-to-surface communications, and deliver persistent targeting and tracking data.