{
  "id": "nro-proliferated",
  "name": "NRO Proliferated Architecture",
  "aliases": [
    "Starshield (NRO)",
    "Proliferated architecture"
  ],
  "domain": "space",
  "country": "USA",
  "category": "Reconnaissance satellite constellation",
  "status": "in-service",
  "fielded": null,
  "operators": [
    "USA"
  ],
  "summary": "Large NRO constellation of small LEO reconnaissance satellites, launched in batches since May 2024.",
  "specs": [
    {
      "k": "orbit_regime",
      "v": "LEO",
      "src": [
        "nro-nrol179"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "mission",
      "v": "Multi-phenomenology ISR supporting intelligence and Department of War users",
      "src": [
        "nro-nrol179"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "program",
      "v": "14 launches through NROL-179 (June 2026); \"hundreds\" of satellites on orbit; launches continue through 2029",
      "src": [
        "nro-nrol179"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "first_launch",
      "v": 2024,
      "src": [
        "nro-presskit-2026"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    }
  ],
  "payloads": [],
  "variants": [],
  "art": "satellite",
  "image": {
    "file": "nro-proliferated.jpg",
    "thumb": "nro-proliferated-thumb.jpg",
    "credit": "Staff Sgt. Joshua LeRoi, U.S. Space Force / DVIDS",
    "license": "Public domain",
    "url": "https://www.dvidshub.net/image/9334332",
    "title": "NROL-48 Launches From Vandenberg",
    "source": "DVIDS",
    "dvids_id": 9334332,
    "unit": "Space Launch Delta 30"
  },
  "verified": null,
  "changelog": [
    {
      "date": "2026-11-08",
      "change": "Entry created from cited open sources"
    }
  ],
  "url": "https://www.defensepedia.com/systems/nro-proliferated.html",
  "sources": {
    "nro-nrol179": {
      "title": "NRO Launches Fourteenth Proliferated Architecture Mission with NROL-179",
      "publisher": "National Reconnaissance Office",
      "url": "https://www.nro.gov/Portals/135/Documents/news/press/2026/NROL-179 Press_Release_Final.pdf",
      "published": "2026-06-01",
      "tier": 1,
      "checked": "2026-11-08"
    },
    "nro-presskit-2026": {
      "title": "NROL Launch Press Kit: Proliferated Architecture",
      "publisher": "National Reconnaissance Office",
      "url": "https://www.nro.gov/Portals/135/Documents/news/Press Kits/10451_Press Kit book_Launch_Pro-Arch_1.7.26.pdf",
      "published": "2026-01-07",
      "tier": 1,
      "checked": "2026-11-08"
    }
  }
}