The fifth SBIRS missile warning satellite in thermal vacuum testing. (Photo: Lockheed Martin)
United Launch Alliance (ULA) is making final preparations to launch the fifth and sixth geosynchronous Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) satellites for the US Space Force.
‘The launch is on track for May 17 from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station,’ ULA announced on 15 May. The mission will launch on an Atlas V 421 configuration rocket.
The fifth and sixth SBIRS Geo launches will complete the Lockheed Martin-built satellite constellation.
SBIRS comprises a network of geosynchronous satellites and highly elliptical orbit payloads to provide persistent IR surveillance – as well as sophisticated ground control systems that manage the data – to support missile warning, missile defence, battlespace awareness and technical intelligence.
Clavister CyberArmour, an integrated defence cybersecurity system, will be used on BAE Systems Hägglunds’ CV90 platform in deployments with a Scandinavian country, as well as in an eastern European nation.
The tactical satellite (TacSat) is an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) system and will participate in exercises in 2025.
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.
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