EID to unveil new vehicle communication system at DSEI
The Portuguese company’s naval communications system is in service across more than a dozen countries. It has turned to its home nation for support in developing a new vehicle based C2 system.
Final Tranche 0 tracking satellites launched for US Missile Defense Agency
Five L3Harris missile tracking satellites were launched on 14 February. (Photo: L3Harris)
The US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) initiated the Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS) programme in 2018 and in January 2021 awarded Other Transaction Agreements to L3Harris Technologies and Northrop Grumman for the creation of prototype systems.
Five L3Harris Technologies’ missile tracking satellites were launched on 14 February as part of the MDA’s HBTSS programme and the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Tranche 0 (T0) Tracking Layer programme.
One of the L3Harris units, a HBTSS satellite, was an on-orbit prototype demonstration that can track manoeuvring hypersonic missiles flying beyond the range of today’s ballistic missile detection capabilities. A second HBTSS satellite was also launched.
The other four infrared satellites will support SDA’s Tracking Layer, which will demonstrate global indications, warning, tracking and targeting of advanced threats such as hypersonic missile and were the final satellites in the Tranche 0 program bringing the on-orbit constellation to 27.
The combined launch also supported SDA’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture by integrating missile tracking and missile defence sensors.
The DoD will use a common set of data to adjust and modify the capabilities for the SDA’s Tranche 1 and 2 Tracking Layer constellation. Earlier this year, L3Harris received a US$919 million contract to develop an 18-vehicle constellation for the SDA’s Tranche 2 Tracking Layer satellite programme.
Derek Tournear, director of SDA, said: “We'll be able to look at test targets from the same orbit at the same time, so that we can see how the two sensors work together.
“In Tranche 1, SDA will fly both sensor types as an operational system – medium-field-of-view demonstrating fire control, based on HBTSS design, and wide-field-of-view doing warning and tracking, based on T0 tracking design.”
You may also like
More from Digital Battlespace
-
![EID to unveil new vehicle communication system at DSEI]()
-
![Chess Dynamics successfully demonstrates Vision4ce AI-driven tracker]()
Chess Dynamics successfully demonstrates Vision4ce AI-driven tracker
The Vision4ce Deep Embedded Feature Tracking (DEFT) technology software is designed to process video and images by blending traditional computer vision with artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to present actionable information from complex environments.
-
![Wave Relay devices cleared for security use on commercial systems in industry trend]()
Wave Relay devices cleared for security use on commercial systems in industry trend
Persistent Systems has been cleared by National Security Agency (NSA) to transmit sensitive data on commercial networks. The devices are added to the NSA’s Commercial Solutions for Classified (CSfC) component list which also includes other companies’ products providing the same security.
-
![UK teases cyber spending boost in Strategic Defence Review ahead of “imminent” release]()
UK teases cyber spending boost in Strategic Defence Review ahead of “imminent” release
The release of the UK’s Strategic Defence Review (SDR) has been long promised as mid-year. It is possible it could be as early as 2 June although the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) continues to play its cards close to its chest.
-
![Intelsat emphasises SATCOM resilience for SOF in contested domains (video)]()
Intelsat emphasises SATCOM resilience for SOF in contested domains (video)
Intelsat outlines how its multi-orbit SATCOM architecture is enhancing connectivity and resilience for special operations forces operating in degraded and contested environments.
-
![US Space Force’s next-generation missile warning system moves forward with $500 million in new contracts]()
US Space Force’s next-generation missile warning system moves forward with $500 million in new contracts
Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (Next-Gen OPIR) satellites are intended to provide early warning of missile launches from any location worldwide and new ground stations will result in expanded coverage of critical missile warning.
