The & nbsp; Pentagon began the development and the & nbsp; creation of space satellites to monitor & nbsp; hypersonic weapons. A new constellation of satellites is expected to 'fill the void' in the & nbsp; American missile defense system. The Pentagon believes they are necessary in & nbsp; in connection with the & nbsp; accelerated creation in the world, in & nbsp; including in & nbsp; Russia and & nbsp; China, hypersonic weapons, which are much more dangerous and & nbsp; less noticeable than conventional ballistic missiles.
The Missile Defense Agency and the Space Development Agency have approved a number of plans for new satellites. The list includes a missile tracking satellite developed by L3Harris for the US Missile Defense Agency. The device has successfully passed a critical design check, the company said. The satellite is designed for the Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS) & nbsp; & mdash; This is the name of the new constellation of satellites.
HBTSS & nbsp; & mdash; one of the & nbsp; several systems offered in & nbsp; the widespread new generation space architecture of the MoD in & nbsp; low earth orbit. The goal of the program & nbsp; & mdash; Demonstrate the ability to detect and track traditional and emerging missile threats with infrared sensors and advanced processing capabilities.
In December 2020, the Space Development Agency selected L3Harris to build and launch four spacecraft capable of detecting and tracking ballistic and hypersonic missiles. The main difference between the new satellites & nbsp; & mdash; they will be in low earth orbit. Current spacecraft designed to track ballistic missile launches are in a higher orbit. The lower the orbit, the more “effort” must be applied to the aircraft to maintain its course. Existing satellites generally cannot detect and & nbsp; track a hypersonic target.
Details on & nbsp; promising spacecraft have yet to be disclosed.
In January, the Missile Defense Agency awarded Northrop Grumman a $ 155 million contract and $ 121 million L3Harris to develop in-orbit demonstration prototypes. Both companies are expected to deliver their satellites in the year 2023. On December 20, L3Harris Technologies completed the development of the project and has already started directly to create a sample of the new satellite. Previously, Northrop Grumman did the same.
The president of L3Harris said recent events, including the demonstration in China of a hypersonic glider, “ reinforce the need to counter hyperson and modern maneuver threats. '' 39; Thus, to detect and monitor ballistic and hypersonic missiles, satellites of the HBTSS program, equipped with infrared sensors and data processing systems in orbit, will be tested in two years. Agreements for & nbsp; launch satellites in & nbsp; low earth orbit will be signed later.
Last year, the Space Research Agency, part of the US Space Force, released requirements for reconnaissance satellites that will be responsible for detecting and tracking hypersonic weapons. There it was reported that there were plans to launch the first vehicles in & nbsp; orbit in fiscal year 2022 (will start in October 2021 year). But, like & nbsp; always, the timing of the program has changed.
For reference:
L3Harris Technologies & nbsp; & mdash; company & nbsp; & mdash; a global innovator in aerospace and defense technologies. The company provides advanced defense technologies and & nbsp; business in space, air, land, sea and cyberspace. L3Harris has an annual income of approximately $ 18 & nbsp; and & nbsp; account 47 & nbsp; 000 & nbsp; employees and & nbsp; its & nbsp; customers are located in more than & nbsp; 100 & nbsp; country.
Source:
https: //spacenews. com/l3harris-missile-tracking-satellites-pass-critical-design-reviews/
