SBIRS provides advanced space surveillance and missile warning, battlespace characterization, and technical intelligence gathering. It is the follow-on to the Defense Support Program satellite. The system includes IR sensor payloads on host satellites in highly elliptical orbit (HEO), two IR sensors each on dedicated satellites in geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO),
and ground assets. The HEO sensor detects launch of submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) from the North Pole region and can be tasked for other IR detection missions. GEO scanning IR sensor performs the strategic missile warning mission, global technical intelligence, and initial phase for the strategic missile defense mission, providing two times the revisit rate and three times the sensitivity of DSP. GEO-5 and -6 are based on a modernized spacecraft that will begin migration to the next-generation Enterprise Ground Service (EGS), consolidating control of multiple systems.
USSF also awarded Raytheon a contract in 2020 to modernize ground data processing. The Future Operationally Resilient Ground Evolution (FORGE) system will serve both SBIRS and the future Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) system. Next-Gen OPIR was originally meant to include three satellites in GEO built by Lockheed Martin and two polar HEO sensors from Northrop Grumman, but the Space Force announced plans in its 2027 budget request to cancel the polar portion of the program. The first Next-Gen OPIR GEO satellite, originally planned for launch in FY25, is facing delays due to payload issues and is now slated for launch in FY26. The first HEO sensors are scheduled for delivery in FY28. The final SBIRS GEO satellite (GEO-6) successfully blasted off from Cape Canaveral in 2022 and was operationally accepted March 24, 2023. GEO-5 and GEO- 6 will replace the oldest satellites on orbit. SBIRS and DSP provided warning to U.S. and Israeli forces of Iranian strikes in April and October 2024, enabling defense against the largest missile attacks in history. GEO-6 was the final SBIRS satellite launch.
Space-Based Infrared System Technical Data
Contractors: Lockheed Martin (prime contractor); Northrop Grumman (payload); Raytheon (data processing modernization).
Operator/Location: USSF CFC, Mission Delta 4 (DEL 4); Buckley SFB, Colo; (JTAGS) located in Japan, Italy, South Korea, and Qatar.
First Launch: GEO-1, May 2011.
IOC: HEO-1, Dec. 5, 2008. (Increment 1, Dec. 8, 2001).
Launch Vehicle: Atlas V (GEO).
Constellation: Six GEO sats, two HEO sensors and two HEO on-orbit reserve (hosted).
Active Satellites/Payloads: •SBIRS HEO-1. Payload operational in 2008; on-orbit reserve. •SBIRS HEO-2. Payload operational in 2009; on-orbit reserve. •SBIRS HEO-3. Payload operational in 2015; active. •SBIRS HEO-4. Payload operational in 2017; active. •SBIRS GEO-1. Launched in 2011; active. •SBIRS GEO-2. Launched in 2013; active. •SBIRS GEO-3. Launched in 2017; active. •SBIRS GEO-4. Launched in 2018; active. •SBIRS GEO-5. Launched in 2021; active. •SBIRS GEO-6. Launched in 2022; active.
Dimensions: 49 x 22 x 20 ft (GEO on orbit); 7 x 4 x 3 ft (HEO sensor).
Weight: 5,525 lb (GEO on orbit); 530 lb (HEO sensor).
Orbit Altitude: Geosynchronous (GEO satellites) and highly elliptical (HEO sensors).
Power: Solar array, 2,435 watts (GEO), batteries.