SBIRS Geo-5 in a thermal vacuum test chamber. The satellite will be launched on 17 May. (Photo: Lockheed Martin)
Preparations are in progress at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station for the launch on 17 May of the fifth geosynchronous Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) satellite for the US Space Force.
The SBIRS constellation is designed to detect missile launches anywhere in the world and feed the resulting data to the US missile defence network.
Manufacturer Lockheed Martin announced on 25 March that SBIRS Geo-5 is notable for being ‘the first military space satellite built on the company’s modernised, modular LM 2100 combat bus’.
LM2100 is designed to provide greater resiliency and cyber-hardening, as well as enhanced spacecraft power, propulsion and electronics. It also features a flexible design that reduces the cost to incorporate future modernised sensor suites, Lockheed Martin added.
SBIRS Geo-6 is scheduled for launch in 2022 with the same LM 2100 bus.
Besides Geo-5 and Geo-6, the LM 2100 bus is the baseline for three Next Gen OPIR Block 0 satellites that are planned to be launched from 2025. LM 2100 also features in future GPS III satellites to be launched from 2026.
SBIRS Geo-5 in a thermal vacuum test chamber. The satellite will be launched on 17 May. (Photo: Lockheed Martin)
As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to our Defence Insight and Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones.
The airborne three-domain, the two ground-based and the ¼ ATR OpenVPX-based cross-domain systems were engineered to provide real-time security across multi-domain operations.
DARPA’s Mission-Integrated Network Control (MINC) programme was set up to develop an autonomous tactical network and enable critical data flow in contested environments.
Why space is an essential part of modern military capabilities
Defence-secure mixed reality headsets can save hours, or even weeks, of travel time to fix defunct equipment or get subject experts effectively “on-site” where they are needed.
The Joint Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare (JCREW) counter-improvised explosive device (C-IED) and Drone Restricted Access Using Known Electromagnetic Warfare (DRAKE) counter-UAS (CUAS) systems are mounted and dismounted RF jammers.
Adarga’s Vantage information analysis tool is in service with the UK MoD and individual UK forces. It builds on the company’s Knowledge Platform which processes, organises and analyses open source material, as well as information held by the user’s military, security and intelligence services.
Connect with us on socials
