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.
A little more than five months after Air Force Special Operations Command briefly stopped flying its CV-22s over a safety issue, an undisclosed number of Ospreys across the service will be grounded once more as maintainers replace old parts associated with the problem. The V-22 Joint Program Office announced the move…