Pathfinder 10 satellite for SBSS. (Image: Boeing)
The US Space Force (USSF) may decide to outsource the maintenance and operation of its Space Based Surveillance System (SBSS) satellite, with responses to a Sources Sought notice due by 2 December 2021.
SBSS is designed to help identify low-Earth orbit military and commercial satellites that may be at risk of being hit by space debris.
Boeing is the incumbent provider of maintenance and sustainment services for the space and ground segments of SBSS, but the USSF is interested in opening up certain services to other contractors.
‘The Government intends to provide SBSS Block 10 and other assets as Government Furnished Equipment (GFE),’ it noted, adding that SBSS as a Service would include ‘contractor operations and maintenance of the SBSS Block 10 [Boeing Pathfinder] system’.
Envisaged tasks for SBSS as a Service would include maintaining health and safety of the space vehicle; executing on-demand space vehicle and payload operations; managing security and cybersecurity; and final system disposal and decommissioning.
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.
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