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The Pentagon has selected contractors to build much of its satellites for the next-generation missile tracking system, but efforts to detect Chinese and Russian hypersonic missiles are dependent on funding in the yet-to-be-passed 2024 defense budget, DefenseOne reports.
L3Harris, Lockheed Martin and Sierra Space will each build 18 satellites for the Proliferation Warfighter Space Architecture program, receiving contracts worth a total of $2.5 billion: $919 million for L3Harris, $890 million for Lockheed and $740 million for Sierra Space, Space Force.
This is Sierra Space’s first contract with the Space Development Agency, marking the entry of a major new supplier into the satellite market. The competition was “really competitive”, with a total of nine companies offering their services to build these satellites.
Each company will build 16 missile warning and surveillance satellites to detect ballistic and hypersonic missiles, as well as two “advance fire control” satellites that track hypersonic missiles in more detail and have more sophisticated infrared sensors to collect data that will be transmitted to the systems. capable of shooting down missiles.
SDA’s six missile defense satellites will be equipped with wide- and medium-angle cameras to cover large areas and provide high-resolution images.
The Space Force will launch satellites into low Earth orbit by April 2027. This 54-satellite contract will make up most of the entire tracking layer, which will have “about 100 satellites.” The agency currently has four tracking satellites in orbit for demonstration purposes, four more are awaiting launch, and another 35 are planned.
But those plans depend on money that will become available only if Congress passes a 2024 defense budget.
Russian Dagger missiles have disappointed Chinese military analysts about their potential to counter US defenses
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