Lockheed Martin's First Modernized SBIRS Missile Warning Satellite Now Under U.S. Space Force Control

Rhea-AI Summary

Lockheed Martin's SBIRS GEO-5 satellite successfully launched on May 18, 2021, from Cape Canaveral. It is now communicating with U.S. Space Force's Space Delta 4 operations team, confirming signal acquisition 36 minutes post-launch. SBIRS GEO-5 enhances missile warning capabilities with its advanced sensors, critical for national security amid rising global threats. Built on the new LM 2100 Combat Bus, it features improved resilience and cyber-hardening. The satellite is part of the broader Next Gen OPIR Block 0 System, set to strengthen missile defense operations.

Positive

• Successful signal acquisition of SBIRS GEO-5 within 36 minutes post-launch.
• Enhanced missile warning capabilities through advanced scanning and surveillance sensors.
• Utilization of the new LM 2100 Combat Bus, improving resiliency and power systems.

Negative

• None.

BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo., May 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Following a successful launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida earlier today, the U.S. Space Force's Space Delta 4 operations team is now "talking" with the fifth Space Based Infrared System Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (SBIRS GEO-5) satellite.

As planned, SBIRS GEO-5—built by Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT)—is responding to the Delta's commands. Signal acquisition was confirmed approximately ~36 minutes after the satellite's 1:37 p.m. EDT launch aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket. Now separated from the rocket, the satellite is continuing on to orbit under its own propulsion.

SBIRS GEO-5 is the latest satellite to join the Space Force's orbiting Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) missile warning constellation equipped with powerful scanning and staring surveillance sensors. These 24-7, always-on, orbital guardians detect missile launches, support ballistic missile defense, expand technical intelligence gathering and bolster situational awareness on the battlefield.

"The world is a more threatening place now with more than 1,000 ballistic missile launches occurring globally every year," said Tom McCormick, vice president of Lockheed Martin Space's OPIR Mission Area. "SBIRS is the tip of the missile defense spear, seeing all those missiles and providing our military the ability to ensure our national security and the safety of our armed forces." 

Faster, More Resilient Missile Warning

Built in about five years, SBIRS GEO-5 is the first military space satellite built on an LM 2100 Combat Bus™, a version of Lockheed Martin's modernized, modular LM 2100™ space vehicle with greatly enhanced resiliency.

The LM 2100 bus is the result of a Lockheed Martin internally-funded, multi-year modernization initiative. Features include:

• Greater resiliency and cyber-hardening
• Enhanced spacecraft power, propulsion and electronics
• Common components and procedures to streamline manufacturing
• Flexible design that reduces the cost to incorporate future, modernized sensor suites

"We designed our modernized LM2100 bus with our military customers' changing, more-contested environment, in mind," said McCormick. "By adding enhanced resiliency features to the LM 2100 we created an initial 'combat bus' for the Space Force for even greater capability."

SBIRS GEO-5 is a step toward achieving the resilient missile warning to be provided by SBIRS' follow on, the Next Gen OPIR Block 0 System. SBIRS GEO-6, launching in 2022, and the first three Next Gen OPIR Block 0 GEO satellites, as well as the future GPS III Follow On (GPS IIIF) satellites, are also based on the LM 2100 Combat Bus.

Lockheed Martin is proud to be part of the SBIRS team led by the Production Corps, Geosynchronous Earth Orbit Division, at the U.S. Space Force's Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California. Lockheed Martin Space, Sunnyvale, California, is the SBIRS prime contractor, with Northrop Grumman, Azusa, California, as the payload integrator.

About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin Corporation is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 114,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.

Please follow @LMNews on Twitter for the latest announcements and news across the corporation.

 

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SOURCE Lockheed Martin

FAQ

What is SBIRS GEO-5 and why is it important for Lockheed Martin (LMT)?

SBIRS GEO-5 is the fifth satellite in the Space Based Infrared System, crucial for missile warning. For Lockheed Martin (LMT), it represents a major technological advancement and strengthens their position in defense contracts.

When was SBIRS GEO-5 launched and what were its initial achievements?

SBIRS GEO-5 was launched on May 18, 2021. It achieved successful signal acquisition 36 minutes after launch, indicating operational readiness.

How does SBIRS GEO-5 enhance national security?

SBIRS GEO-5 bolsters national security by providing continuous monitoring of missile launches, thereby enhancing the U.S. military's defensive capabilities.

What features does the LM 2100 Combat Bus provide for SBIRS GEO-5?

The LM 2100 Combat Bus offers enhanced resilience, cyber-hardening, improved power systems, and a flexible design for future upgrades.