Lockheed Martin has won a $ 4.9 billion contract to build three missile warning satellites for the US Space Force

The satellites will be operated by the US Space Forces and will provide a first warning of a ballistic or tactical missile launch anywhere on the globe.

On January 4, the Pentagon announced that Lockheed Martin had won a $ 4.9 billion contract to produce three next-generation geosynchronous infrared satellites.

The satellites will be operated by the US Space Forces and will provide a first warning of a ballistic or tactical missile launch anywhere on the globe.

The Space Force is getting five next-generation OPIR satellites – the three geosynchronous orbiting satellites built by Lockheed Martin and two satellites in polar orbit by Northrop Grumman.

Space and Missile Systems Center at August 2018 Awarded to Lockheed Martin $ 2.9 billion contract to develop three GEO satellites. The new contract is for manufacturing, assembly, integration, testing and delivery by May 2028. The contract also covers Software and Earth Systems Engineering.

The space force said the next-generation OPIR satellites would expand and eventually replace the coverage provided by the space-based infrared system satellites, which were also made by Lockheed Martin. The first Geo satellite could be launched as early as 2025.

The satellites were the space infrared system Criticized in 2017 by General John Hayton – who is currently vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and was formerly commander of the US Strategic Command – for being “interesting targets” for enemy anti-satellite weapons. This led the Air Force to accelerate the development of the new constellation.

The next-generation OPIR spacecraft has more powerful sensors and other features that make it more resilient against attacks from current satellites.

“A space program of this size – which involves developing two entirely new missile warning payloads – has never moved at this speed,” said Tom McCormick, Lockheed Martin’s vice president of Fixed Infrared Systems.