US Department of Defense launches five hypersonic missile tracking satellites

The US Department of Defense has launched five missile tracking satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. The satellites, designed and built by L3Harris Technologies, form part of the US Missile Defense Agency’s (MDA) Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS) program and the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Tranche 0 (T0) Tracking Layer program.

The sole L3Harris HBTSS satellite in the five is an on-orbit prototype demonstration that can track manoeuvring hypersonic missiles flying beyond the range of today’s ballistic missile detection capabilities.  The other four are infrared satellites to support SDA’s Tracking Layer, which will demonstrate global indications, warning, tracking and targeting of advanced threats such as hypersonic missiles.

“Our advanced satellites on orbit will bring the integrated and resilient missile warning and defence capabilities the US requires against adversaries developing more advanced maneuverable missiles,” said Christopher E. Kubasik, Chair and CEO. “L3Harris delivered this advanced missile tracking capability on behalf of MDA and SDA on orbit in just over three years after work was authorized to proceed.”

This combined launch also supports SDA’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture by integrating missile tracking and missile defense sensors. The Department of Defense will use a common set of data to adjust and modify the capabilities for the SDA’s Tranche 1 and 2 Tracking Layer constellation. Earlier this year, L3Harris received a $919 million contract to develop an 18-vehicle constellation for the SDA’s Tranche 2 Tracking Layer satellite program.