Northrop Grumman Gets New Missile Defence Contract

Under this new contract from the Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), the defense contract giant Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) will perform manufacturing and production readiness systems engineering for MDA’s Precision Tracking Space System (PTSS).

Lockheed Working on BMD Tracker System

 

 

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Sept. 21 (UPI) — Lockheed Martin says it’s leveraging its satellite and missile defense expertise for the Precision Tracking Space System for ballistic missile defense.

Pentagon Mulls Hurdles To Early Missile Intercept

By Amy Butler

Nearly two years ago, Defense Secretary Robert Gates unveiled a new incremental strategy to protect much of Europe and the Eastern U.S. from an Iranian ballistic missile attack. The so-called Phased Adaptive Approach (PAA) was designed with increments, each deploying new technologies in 2011, 2015 and 2018, and—eventually—the final phase would provide coverage from intercontinental ballistic missile threats from Iran in 2020.

C. A. ‘Dutch’ Ruppersberger Pushes For Billion-Dollar Missile Defense Satellite

A powerful House Democrat announced Wednesday that he will fight for a billion dollar-plus space tracking system for missile defense, despite the fact that Republican lawmakers have dropped funding for the system from the defense policy bill.

Rep. C. A. “Dutch” Ruppersberger (D-Md.), the top Democrat on the House Permanent Select Intelligence Committee who also sits on the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, said he will push for an additional $168 million in the defense policy bill to cover costs of the Precision Tracking and Surveillance Satellites (PTSS).

Friday Launch to Upgrade US Missile Defenses

SBIRS GEO-1 encapsulation.

The United States military will take a big step toward upgrading the nation’s missile-defense system this week, when it launches the first in a constellation of next-generation surveillance satellites.

On Friday, the Air Force will launch GEO-1, the first of four new satellites planned under the Space-Based Infrared Systems (SBIRS) program. SBIRS will significantly improve the country’s missile-warning and missile-defense capabilities, and it will also provide enhanced technical intelligence to fighters on the ground, Air Force officials said.

House Panel Proposes Zeroing Missile Tracking System

STSS / PTSS Diagram

A proposed satellite system for tracking ballistic missiles as they coast through space would receive no funding next year under legislation unveiled May 3 by a House defense oversight panel.

The U.S. Missile Defense Agency requested $160.8 million in 2012 for the Precision Tracking Space System (PTSS), which is intended to provide cuing information to ground-based radars and interceptor systems. But the House Armed Services strategic forces subcommittee, in marking up its portion of the 2012 defense authorization bill, denied that request in its entirety, according to a press release issued by the full committee.

MDA Drops Target-Acquisition From Next Sats

The U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) will not include a target-acquisition sensor in its forthcoming missile-tracking satellites, as part of an effort to streamline the system and control costs.

The agency’s new design for its next space-based missile-tracking system will be simpler than the two Northrop Grumman Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS) satellites now conducting a demonstration in space, according to MDA and industry officials.