The third Space Based Infrared System geosynchronous Earth orbit satellite was recently delivered to prime contractor Lockheed Martin where it will be stored in the company’s Sunnyvale, Calif., facility, according to an Air Force release. SBIRS is primarily used for early missile warning, but it also can support weather missions and civil applications, states the release. “This delivery represents a major milestone for the SBIRS program,” said Lt. Gen. Samuel Greaves, program executive officer for space and commander of the Space and Missile Systems Center. “It represents seven years of hard work and dedicated performance by Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, the Aerospace Corporation, multiple support contractors, and my government team. It’s yet another instance of SMC delivering on our promises.” Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems is the payload provider and the 460th Space Wing at Buckley AFB, Colo., operates the system, states the release. (See also SBIRS Payload Clears On-Orbit Checkout.)
RTX’s Raytheon unit was able to “significantly” extend the range of the AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile using mostly software changes in experimental tests last year, expanding the reach and lethality of the standard U.S. dogfighting weapon, company officials said Sept. 15.
