RTX will shift focus from being a space prime contractor to a component supplier, as stated by RTX President and COO Chris Calio during the first-quarter earnings call. RTX acquired Blue Canyon Technologies in 2020 but now plans to supply components to other companies instead of competing as a prime provider of fully integrated satellites. The company faced challenges when trying to build satellites for the Space Development Agency’s PWSA and ultimately withdrew from a $250 million contract to build missile-tracking satellites. SDA director Derek Tournear confirmed that the RTX satellites will not fly due to de-scoping after Congress increased the SDA’s budget.
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Overall, RTX will continue to develop components for Tranche 2 vendors but will not proceed with the flight of the previously planned seven satellites. Tranche 1’s Tracking Layer Tranche, composed of 28 satellites from Northrop Grumman and L3Harris, will still be delivered.
