Mynaric AG has been selected as a key development partner of Phase 2 of the Space-based adaptive communications node (Space-BACN) program of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). DARPA's Space-BACN program envisions a low-cost, scalable optical communications terminal that could be reconfigured to work with various optical intersatellite link standards allowing seamless communication among government and commercial LEO satellite constellations. Today's announcement follows Mynaric's previous participation in Phase 0 in December 2021 and Phase 1 in August 2022 of the program.

The 20-month Phase 2 of the Space-BACN program aims to build a scalable, reconfigurable optical communications terminal. The 14-month Phase 1 focused on creating a benchtop model of a next-generation optical communications terminal following the 15-week Phase 0, which was focused on developing the architectural design of the terminal. Mynaric's laser communications terminals are designed and manufactured for mass deployment in government and commercial satellite constellations.

The company has been previously selected for SDA programs by Northrop Grumman for the Tranche 1 Transport Layer and Tracking Layer, by Loft Federal for the SDA's Experimental Testbed (NExT) and by Raytheon for the SDA's Tranche 1 Tracking Layer program, amongst others. In addition, Mynaric was recently selected by the SDA to contribute to an optical ground station demonstration.