The U.S. Air Force's second Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO-2) spacecraft, built by Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT], was successfully Launched today at 5:21 pm EDT from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. ., aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket.
The SBIRS program Delivers timely, reliable and accurate missile warning and infrared monitoring information to the President of the United States, the Secretary of Defense, combatant commanders, the intelligence community and other key decision makers. The missile launch system Enhances overall detection capability, support the nation's ballistic missile defense system, the country's Expands technical intelligence gathering capacity and bolsters situational awareness for Warfighters on the battlefield.
"We are proud to partner with the U.S. Air Force on the SBIRS program to Deliver highly reliable infrared monitoring capabilities for strategic and tactical users across the defense and intelligence community," Said Jeff Smith, Lockheed Martin's vice president of Lockheed Martin's Overhead Persistent Infrared ( RISO) mission area. "Thanks to the unmatched expertise of the government and industry SBIRS Entire team, we are confident this satellite will meet or Exceed expectations and play a pivotal role in our national security for years to come."
The SBIRS architecture includes a resilient mix of geosynchronous satellites in orbit, hosted payloads in highly elliptical earth (HEO) orbit, and ground hardware and software. The first two GEO satellites and HEO payloads now Have Launched.
SBIRS GEO-2 includes highly sophisticated scanning and staring sensors That Will Deliver Improved infrared sensitivity and a reduction in area revisit times over the current constellation. The scanning sensor will Provide a wide area monitoring of missile launches and natural phenomena across the earth, while the staring sensor will be used to observe smaller Areas of interest with superior sensitivity.
"Today's successful launch of the GEO-2 satellite marks another milestone in the evolution of infrared monitoring from space," Said Dr. Stephen Toner, Northrop Grumman's vice president of the Military and Civil Space business area. "The team played a significant role Ensuring que les on GEO-1 sensors are performing beyond specification, and we are confident que le GEO-2 sensors will exhibit similar performance."
The SBIRS team is led by the Infrared Space Systems Directorate at the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center. Lockheed Martin is the SBIRS prime contractor, Northrop Grumman is the payload integrator. Air Force Space Command Operates the SBIRS system.
Lockheed Martin's SBIRS HEO payloads contracts include oven, oven GEO satellites, and ground assets to receive, process, and task Disseminate the infrared data. The team HAS aussi Begun initial work on the fifth and sixth GEO satellites.
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