The Space Force’s main acquisition arm, Space Systems Command, announced Nov. 27 it has completed the critical design review for six satellites built by Millennium Space Systems that will go in medium-Earth orbit (MEO), clearing the way to start production ahead of a first scheduled ...
The Space Development Agency has added another batch of missile-tracking satellites to its expansive constellation, awarding Raytheon a $250 million contract March 2 to build seven spacecraft. Those satellites will join the already-planned 28 satellites in the Tranche 1 Tracking Layer of SDA’s Proliferated Warfighter Space ...
Retired Gen. C. Robert "Bob" Kehler led the discussion "America Under Attack: Defending the Homeland" with Gen. Glen D. VanHerck of U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command; Gen. James H. Dickinson of U.S. Space Command; and Adm. Charles A. "Chas" Richard of ...
The Space Force’s sixth and final satellite in the Space-Based Infrared System heads to geosynchronous orbit as soon as Aug. 4, the faraway orbit offering a wide view of Earth to detect missile launches in the atmosphere. The sixth satellite in the constellation adds “crucial fortification ...
The Space Development Agency awarded L3Harris and Northrop Grumman Strategic Space Systems contracts to build Tranche 1 of the Tracking Layer for its planned National Defense Space Architecture, a multipurpose defense constellation. Each company will build 14 low-Earth-orbit satellites to detect and track the infrared ...
The recent Russian invasion of Ukraine is highlighting new use-cases for ISR as well as the advantages of integrating a hybrid approach—multiple types of ISR imaging satellites—to capture a fuller picture of developing threats.
The Space Force’s experimental satellite bound for geosynchronous orbit should help to mitigate some of the risks associated with the U.S.’s plans to improve space-based missile warning and tracking. The Wide Field of View Testbed satellite is one of two payloads scheduled to launch on ...
Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall has made missile warning and tracking a priority of his tenure, and agencies across the Pentagon are working on a number of efforts to handle that key mission from space. But instead of relying on a less coordinated approach, one ...
The Space Force’s much-increased 2023 budget request highlighted major investments in missile warning and tracking, but the service is hoping to add data transport and space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance as major pieces to its 2024 request, its top planner said June 2. Specifically, the ...
As the Space Development Agency moves forward with plans for missile tracking and warning satellites, the Missile Defense Agency hopes to add its own satellites to that architecture. Two prototypes are scheduled to launch in March 2023 and will be placed in orbit so that ...
Detailed justification for the Space Force’s fiscal 2023 budget request revealed facility expansions for new radar and intercontinental ballistic missile programs and the breakdown of how the service would like to spend $1 billion on missile warning and tracking.
The Air Force slashed the F-35 buy in its 2023 budget request to just 33 jets—15 fewer than it bought in 2022 and 27 fewer than 2021, saying it preferred to spend that money on other needed modernization programs and wait until the Block 4 ...