L3Harris Infrared Sensor Satellite Passes Preliminary Review

L3Harris’ infrared sensor satellite for a future U.S. military constellation has passed a preliminary review, enabling the defense contractor to participate in the U.S. Space Force’s Medium Earth Orbit Missile Warning and Tracking program.

On Monday, Paul Wloszek, L3Harris’ general manager for missile defense, said that completing the review allows the program to remain on track for critical design review in 2024.

If selected, the L3Harris satellite will be part of Epoch 1, the Space Systems Command’s first deployment of satellites that are capable of tracking missiles with some limited capability for missile warning, SpaceNews reported.

Other companies vying for a spot in the missile warning project are Millennium Space Systems and Raytheon.

The infrared sensor satellite is not the first technology L3Harris is developing for the Space Force. In June 2023, the company secured a contract to design an overhead persistent infrared sensor payload for the service branch’s missile warning satellite network.