US Military to Launch 54 Satellites for Hypersonic Missile Tracking
The US military is set to deploy 54 satellites dedicated to tracking hypersonic missiles, with contracts awarded to major defence contractors L3Harris, Lockheed Martin, and Sierra Space for the construction of 18 satellites each under the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture program, as reported by DefenceOne.
Primarily aimed at detecting launches of hypersonic missiles from China and Russia, the implementation of this system is contingent upon funding outlined in the yet-to-be-approved US defence budget for 2024. The total value of the contracts amounts to $2.5 billion, with $919 million allocated to L3Harris, $890 million to Lockheed, and $740 million to Sierra Space. Notably, this marks Sierra Space's first contract with the Space Development Agency (SDA), indicating the emergence of a new major satellite provider in the market.
Each company will manufacture 16 satellites designed for detecting both ballistic and hypersonic missiles, along with two "pre-launch fire control" satellites providing detailed tracking of hypersonic missiles. These satellites will be equipped with sophisticated infrared sensors to collect data transmitted to interception systems designed to neutralize missiles.
Six SDA missile defence satellites will feature wide and medium-angle cameras for covering large territories and capturing high-quality images. The launch of the satellites into low Earth orbit is planned for April 2027. This system will play a crucial role within the broader missile launch tracking system, which aims to utilize around 100 satellites. Currently, the agency has four tracking satellites in orbit for demonstration purposes, four awaiting launch, and an additional 35 in the planning stages.
It is worth noting that in the night of January 15, Ukrainian air defence successfully downed two rare and valuable Russian military space aircraft: the A-50 early warning radar aircraft and the Il-22 airborne command post.
Aircraft like the downed Russian A-50 are essential for monitoring airspace, including detecting airborne targets and coordinating and managing fighter aircraft. In addition to airborne targets, such aircraft can also track ground targets, such as radars, and play a vital role in coordinating Russian missile strikes.