Airmen working on the ground segment for GEO-1, the first Space Based Infrared Systems satellite, have completed months of testing in Boulder, Colo., to verify that they will be able to assess whether the satellite’ missile warning functions are performing properly once GEO-1 is on orbit sometime next year. “Completing integration of our software baseline that will provide missile warning certification for SBIRS GEO-1 is a tremendous step forward for the ground segment of the program,” said Col. Troy Brashear, SBIRS Ground Group commander at Los Angeles AFB, Calif. He added, “We are on the right track, evidenced by the early achievement of this milestone; the program is making solid progress toward delivery to launch.” This testing concluded in mid-September, eight days ahead of schedule. (Los Angeles release) (For more on SBIRS, read Missile Warning for the Future from the October issue of Air Force Magazine.)
After years of serving as the bill-payer for other Pentagon priorities, munitions stockpiles are poised to get a major boost from the $150 billion reconciliation package unveiled by lawmakers in Congress this week, along with the defense industrial base to...