Commanding the Skies: U.S. Air Force’s SBIRS GEO Flight-4 Missile Alert Satellite Springs into Action
Enhanced Satellite Capabilities for Missile Detection
Satellites’ accuracy and sensitivity for detecting infrared targets significantly exceed specifications.
The U.S. Air Force’s 460th Space Wing is now in communication with the recently launched fourth Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) satellite. This successful launch occurred at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, further enhancing the Air Force’s surveillance capabilities.
Built by Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), the SBIRS GEO Flight-4 satellite is operating as expected, with signal acquisition confirmed approximately 37 minutes after its 7:48 p.m. EST launch aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket.
SBIRS GEO Flight-4 joins a powerful constellation that supports missile warning and defense systems. Equipped with advanced scanning and infrared surveillance sensors, these satellites are crucial for detecting missile launches and gathering technical intelligence, thereby enhancing situational awareness on the battlefield. This addition provides comprehensive global coverage for the U.S. military.
At Buckley Air Force Base, a state-of-the-art SBIRS ground control system—also designed by Lockheed Martin—serves as the central hub for satellite data collection. This control system efficiently transforms the information gathered from powerful sensors into actionable intelligence for defense, intelligence, and civil applications.
“SBIRS is the nation’s 24/7 global watchman, with infrared eyes ready to detect and deliver early warning of ballistic missiles. As a vital element of the nation’s missile defense system, SBIRS demonstrates enhanced precision and power,” stated Tom McCormick, Vice President of Lockheed Martin’s Overhead Persistent Infrared systems mission area. He added that upgrades to the fifth and sixth SBIRS GEO satellites to the modernized LM 2100 satellite bus were achieved at no extra cost to the Air Force, resulting in a remarkable $1 billion in savings due to enhanced production and management efficiencies.
In late 2016, Lockheed Martin completed a significant upgrade to SBIRS’ ground control system. The new SBIRS Block 10 system features improvements such as faster data collection, enhanced threat detection, and superior target tracking, allowing military personnel to observe dimmer targets more quickly. It also streamlines operations by consolidating control over both legacy Defense Support Program and SBIRS satellites.
The SBIRS GEO Flight-4 will now proceed to its final geosynchronous orbit, approximately 22,000 miles from Earth, where its solar arrays and antennas will be deployed for on-orbit testing. It will complement SBIRS GEO Flights 1, 2, and 3, launched in 2011, 2013, and 2017 respectively, all of which continue to surpass performance expectations.
Lockheed Martin developed the SBIRS GEO Flight-4 satellite at its facility in Sunnyvale, California, delivering it to Florida on October 31, 2017.
The SBIRS development team is primarily led by the Remote Sensing Systems Directorate at the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California. Lockheed Martin Space is the prime contractor, with Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems serving as the payload integrator.
