MDA wins another big order (with undisclosed customer), with the initial phase of engineering and programmatic activities valued at $180 million (booked in Q4/23), which will lead to the awarding of the full constellation of $750 million, to be booked in 2024. Another prime award, this is expected to include a minimum of 36 MDA software-defined digital satellites.
IMO, the development of its software-defined digital satellites (SDS) is a game changer for MDA. When viewing the opportunity in the space market, this growth is characterized by hardware standardization and enhanced software capabilities, emphasizing modular and adaptable platforms. In other words, drive down hardware costs and ensure that satellites can be digitally adapted to suit the task at hand.
MDA is square in the middle of this trend, which is why it is starting to see big success in orders. According to market research firm NSR (an Analysys Mason company), SDS orders have seen a steady rise over the past couple of years. Driven by technological improvements offered by satellite manufacturers on new platforms using software that gives satellite operators control of mission planning, payload operations, and better capacity management, SDS is narrowing the gap between satellite and terrestrial networks. NSR forecasts
nearly 26,000 partially or fully flexible SDS satellites will be ordered over the next decade with the entire satellite manufacturing and launch industry working to accommodate the growing trend for high-volume production, lower costs, and standardized offerings.
Direct-to-Device Driven by Software-Defined Satellites - NSR