Air Force Space Command has accepted GEO-2, the second Space Based Infrared System geosynchronous satellite, for operations, announced service space officials. GEO-2’s performance matches that of GEO-1, the first SBIRS satellite, and in some cases exceeds it, states the Space and Missile Systems Center’s release. Air Force testers began the operational trail period with GEO-2 on Oct. 21, five months ahead of the original schedule, according to the Nov. 26 release. The early start was due to efficiencies learned during the checkout process for GEO-1. The Air Force and its industry partners launched GEO-2 into orbit in March. Along, with GEO-1 and two SBIRS payloads on satellites in highly elliptical orbits, GEO-2 is part of the new constellation designed to provide warning of missile launches around the globe and collect other types of infrared intelligence. SBIRS spacecraft complement and will eventually replace legacy Defense Support Program satellites. In May, AFSPC declared GEO-1 fully operational. The 460th Space Wing at Buckley AFB, Colo., operates the SBIRS assets. Lockheed Martin is the SBIRS prime contractor. Northrop Grumman supplies the sensor payloads.
As Lockheed Martin prepares to release the first F-35 Block 4 software updates this summer, the company and the Joint Program Office are already well into analyses that will decide what will comprise Block 5 and later upgrades, Lockheed’s F-35 program manager said. For now though, some of the new…