In 2023, five satellites with infrared sensors will be launched to detect missile launches, built by L3Harris under a contract with the Pentagon. This has been reported space news.
According to the publication, four will work for the Space Development Agency (SDA) and one for the Missile Defense Agency (MDA). At the same time, L3Harris plans to build 14 more such satellites by 2025.
SDA is tasked with hosting a large constellation of communications and tracking satellites for ballistic and hypersonic missiles, including the most advanced China and Russia. To do so, in October 2020, the agency signed two contracts with SpaceX for $149 million and with L3Harris for $193.5 million.
The constellation’s first phase will include two SpaceX satellites that should enter orbit in September 2022. The second phase, scheduled for March 2023, includes the deployment of four L3Harris satellites and a number of other satellites manufactured by Lockheed Martin and York Space.
Another L3Harris satellite is being developed under a $121 million contract with the Missile Defense Agency under the Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS) program. It involves launching two prototypes from L3Harris and Northrop Grumman into orbit to test the sensors’ ability to track the hypersonic and low-vision third stages of ballistic missiles.
Former U.S. Space Force Commander John Raymond ConfessedHe said that the states are supporting the Ukrainian Armed Forces using the Starlink satellite system, which belongs to Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
Flying 130 miles above the battlefield, Starlink satellites provide high-speed Internet access, keeping Ukrainian frontline troops in contact with their commanders.
In August last year, Dmitry Rogozin, head of Roscosmos declarationHe said that Elon Musk has long been involved in military space projects, and his company SpaceX is a Pentagon contractor.
Source: Gazeta
