The Air Force has awarded $25 million to Science Applications International Corp. to develop a “qualification model payload” for the risk reduction phase of the fledgling Alternate Infrared Satellite System, the proposed cousin to the Space-Based Infrared System, according to an SAIC news release. Last month, USAF inked a $54 million contract with Raytheon to continue work on SBIRS and develop performance data for AIRSS. The Air Force believes technology advances will enable the SBIRS follow-on (or replacement) to advance much more quickly and with less technology risk and reduced cost.
Lockheed Martin’s proposed autonomous drone, called Vectis, is still on track to fly a prototype by the end of 2027, an official from the company’s Skunk Works division said Sept. 10, and the firm already started work on four more Vectis aircraft.
