Mbryonics to Build Optical Terminal for DARPA’s Space-BACN Program

Mbryonics Starcom terminal. Photo: Mbryonics

The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) awarded Mbryonics a contract to deliver an optical terminal for the second phase of the Space-BACN program. 

Space-BACN is a U.S. Department of Defense program to foster interoperable technologies that can enable seamless communication between government and commercial Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations. 

Mbryonics, based in Ireland, participated in Phase 1 of the program, awarded in August of 2022. The company said on Tuesday that it delivered on Phase 1 within 14 months. The company has a product line of optical inter-satellite links and Earth links called StarCom. 

In Phase 2, Mbryonics will design and deliver an optical terminal. The company will coordinate with modem and satellite constellation operators over a 21-month performance period to accelerate the development of inter-satellite communications capable of connecting LEO constellations using different communications protocols. 

Mbryonics CEO John Mackey commented: “This collaboration supports the Space-BACN vision for seamless interconnectivity between government and commercial systems, fortifying a resilient space layer for JADC2 operations. This contract award solidifies Mbryonics’ leadership in industrial-edge optical communications, affirming our strategy of pioneering fiber-coupled photonic systems.”