Lockheed to Support SBIRS Ground Systems Under $1B Contract

Lockheed Martin has secured a five-year, $1 billion contract that calls for services in support of the ground control systems of the decade-old Space Based Infrared System constellation.

Under the terms of the contract, Lockheed will operate and maintain the SBIRS centers at Buckley Space Force Base, Peterson Air Force Base and Greeley Air National Guard Station, SpaceNews reported.

According to Rob Walker, Lockheed’s director of overhead persistent infrared operations and sustainment, the billion-dollar deal provides for logistics support and upgrades needed to operate the last two SBIRS satellites.

SBIRS GEO-5, the penultimate addition to the constellation, was deployed in geosynchronous orbit on May 18 via an Atlas V rocket that lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Station in Florida.

A sixth and final SBIRS satellite is currently under development. The SBIRS GEO-6 is being built using the new LM 2100 combat bus and is projected to launch in 2022.

SBIRS has been operational since 2011. The satellites in the constellation provide long-range surveillance and target detection capabilities to help carry out missile warning, missile defense, technical intelligence and battlespace awareness missions.

A new missile warning constellation called Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared is already being developed to replace SBIRS.

Lockheed is one of the prime contractors for the Next-Gen OPIR satellites. The aerospace company has recently been awarded a $4.9 billion contract to build the first three satellites in the constellation to be deployed in geosynchronous orbit.

Northrop Grumman was also awarded a $2.4 billion contract to begin designing two more Next-Gen OPIR satellites for polar coverage.