Lockheed Martin has completed a key milestone in the development of the Space Based Infrared System satellite program, which just got a restructuring green light from Pentagon acquisition chief Ken Krieg. A company release states that Lockheed “successfully completed” an end-to-end test that shows the space and ground components can “work together.” Passing this test means Lockheed can proceed with launch of the first SBIRS geosynchronous orbit spacecraft. Lockheed expects delivery of the GEO payload from partner Northrop Grumman sometime this month. The companies already have one of the two contracted SBIRS highly elliptical orbit payloads on orbit.
After years of describing to lawmakers and Pentagon leaders the nature of that threat and the key role spacepower plays in deterring conflict in the domain and enabling the rest of the joint force, Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman told reporters during AFA’s Warfare Symposium here that the message appears to…