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Space
 

   Mission Description:

     SBIRS will replace the Defense Support Program (DSP) as the U.S.'s primary initial warning system of a ballistic missile attack on the U.S., its deployed forces, or its allies. The SBIRS High component (with highly elliptical and geosynchronous orbiting satellites) and SBIRS Low component (with low-orbiting satellites) will provide global below- and above-the-horizon detection, tracking and discrimination of missiles in their boost, post-boost, midcourse and reentry phases of flight. An integrated, centralized ground station will serve all SBIRS space elements (as well as DSP satellites). SBIRS will provide the key advanced surveillance and warning capability needed to support both theater and national ballistic missile defenses (BMD) in the 21st century.


Key Program Factors:

SBIRS High is in the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) acquisition phase. After a two-contract pre-EMD competition, a single contractor was selected in November 1996

SBIRS Low is in the Program Definition/Risk Reduction (PDRR) phase. Two Flight Demonstration System (FDS) satellites and a Low Altitude Demonstration System (LADS) satellite are to be launched in FY 1999. EMD is to begin in FY 2001

Acquisition Service and Category: Air Force, ACAT-1D

The SBIRS program is a lead program for acquisition streamlining. One document, the Single Acquisition and Management Plan (SAMP), has replaced the traditional acquisition documents

Two additional activities are funded under SBIRS: Cobra Brass (under development by Sandia National Lab), and the Miniature Sensor Technology Integration (MSTI) program to provide phenomenology data for the full system. Additionally, these programs will provide insight into future Technical Intelligence (TI) and capabilities for Battlespace Characterization

Per Congressional direction to accelerate SBIRS Low, DoD has funded an FY 2004 deployment.

 

     Major contractors:

TRW, Redondo Beach, CA (SBIRS Low Dem/Val FDS); Boeing North America, Downey, CA (SBIRS LADS); Lockheed Martin/Loral/Aerojet team (SBIRS High EMD).
 



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