US Space Shield: Pentagon to launch 54 new satellites to track new generation missiles
The Pentagon has selected contractors to build much of its next-generation missile tracking system satellites, but efforts to detect Chinese and Russian hypersonic missiles depend on funds provided in the yet-to-be-approved 2024 defense budget, reports DefenceOne.
L3Harris, Lockheed Martin and Sierra Space will each build 18 satellites for the Proliferation Warfighter Space Architecture program, receiving contracts totaling $2.5 billion: $919 million for L3Harris, $890 million for Lockheed and $740 million for Sierra Space, the Space Force Acquisition Office announced.
This is Sierra Space’s first contract with the Space Development Agency, marking the entry of a new major supplier into the satellite market. The tender was “really competitive,” with a total of nine companies offering their services to build these satellites.
Each company will build 16 missile warning and tracking satellites to detect ballistic and hypersonic missiles, as well as two “pre-fire control” satellites that track hypersonic missiles in more detail and have more sophisticated infrared sensors to collect data that will be transmitted to interceptor systems capable of shooting down missiles.
The six SDA missile defense satellites will be equipped with wide- and medium-angle cameras to cover large areas and provide high-resolution images.
The Space Force will launch the satellites into low Earth orbit by April 2027. This contract for 54 satellites will make up the majority of the entire tracking layer, which will have “about 100 satellites.” Currently, the agency has four tracking satellites in orbit for demonstration purposes, with four more awaiting launch and 35 more planned.
But these plans depend on money that will only become available if Congress passes the 2024 defense budget.
