View source for Engineering:Space-Based Infrared System

{{Short description|Missile warning and defence system}}
[[File:SBIRS-Architecture.png|thumb|upright=1.0|right|Configuration of SBIRS systems: GEO, HEO and Low components.]]
The '''Space-Based Infrared System''' ('''SBIRS''') is a United States Space Force system intended to meet the United States' Department of Defense [[Physics:Infrared|infrared]] space surveillance needs through the first two to three decades of the 21st century. The SBIRS program is designed to provide key capabilities in the areas of missile warning, missile defense, battlespace characterization and technical intelligence via satellites in geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO), sensors hosted on satellites in [[Astronomy:Molniya orbit|highly elliptical orbit]] (HEO), and ground-based data processing and control.

A total of twelve satellites carrying SBIRS or STSS payloads had been launched: SBIRS GEO-1 ([[Engineering:USA-230|USA-230]], 2011), SBIRS GEO-2 ([[Engineering:USA-241|USA-241]], 2013), SBIRS GEO-3 ([[Engineering:USA-273|USA-273]], 2017), SBIRS GEO-4 ([[Engineering:USA-282|USA-282]], 2018), SBIRS GEO-5 (USA-315, 2021), SBIRS GEO-6 ([[Engineering:USA-336|USA-336]], 2022), SBIRS HEO-1 ([[Engineering:USA-184|USA-184]], 2006), SBIRS HEO-2 ([[Engineering:USA-200|USA-200]], 2008), SBIRS HEO-3 (USA-259, 2014), STSS-ATRR ([[Engineering:USA-205|USA-205]], 2009), STSS Demo 1 (USA-208, 2009) and STSS Demo 2 (USA-209, 2009). The manufacturing contract for SBIRS GEO-5 and SBIRS GEO-6 was awarded in 2014. Funding for SBIRS GEO-7 and SBIRS GEO-8 was canceled in 2019.<ref name=Erwin>{{cite news|title=The end of SBIRS: Air Force says it's time to move on|first=Sandra|last=Erwin|publisher=SpaceNews|date=19 February 2018|url=http://spacenews.com/the-end-of-sbirs-air-force-says-its-time-to-move-on/|access-date=21 February 2018}}</ref>

==Background==
Based on its experiences with the launching of short-range theater missiles by Iraq during the 1991 Persian Gulf War, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) concluded that expanded theater missile warning capabilities were needed, and it began planning for an improved infrared satellite sensor capability that would support both long-range strategic and short-range theater ballistic missile warning and defense operations. In 1994, DoD studied consolidating various infrared space requirements, such as for ballistic missile warning and defense, technical intelligence, and battlespace characterization, and it selected SBIRS to replace and enhance the capabilities provided by the [[Engineering:Defense Support Program|Defense Support Program]] (DSP). DSP satellites are built with infrared detectors that can sense missile plumes, and have been providing early warning for long-range ballistic missile launches for over 30 years. DoD had previously attempted to replace DSP with:
*the '''Advanced Warning System''' in the early 1980s
*the '''Boost Surveillance and Tracking System''' in the late 1980s
*the '''Follow-on Early Warning System''' in the early 1990s

According to the [[Engineering:Government Accountability Office|Government Accountability Office]] (GAO), these attempts failed due to immature technology, high cost, and affordability issues. SBIRS is to use more sophisticated infrared technologies than the DSP to enhance the detection of strategic and theater ballistic missile launches and the performance of the missile-tracking function.

The original contract consisted of 2 SBIRS HEO satellite sensors and 2-3 SBIRS GEO sensors (and satellites) with an option to buy a total of 5 GEOs. A complement of satellites in [[Astronomy:Low Earth orbit|low Earth orbit]] (LEO) was planned as part of the program (SBIRS-Low), but this has been moved into the Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS) program.

SBIRS continues to struggle with cost overruns,<ref>{{cite web|title=Intelligence Authorization Act For Fiscal Year 2000: Space-Based Infrared System-High (House Report 106-130)|date=7 May 1999|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|url=http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CRPT-106hrpt130/html/CRPT-106hrpt130-pt1.htm}}</ref> with Nunn-McCurdy breaches occurring in 2001 and 2005. By September 2007, the expected project cost had increased to US$10.4 billion.<ref name="GAO-07-1088R">{{cite web|title=Space Based Infrared System High Program and its Alternative (GAO-07-1088R)|date=12 September 2007|publisher=Government Accountability Office|url=http://www.gao.gov/htext/d071088r.html|access-date=22 December 2010|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304041154/http://www.gao.gov/htext/d071088r.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cdi.org/friendlyversion/printversion.cfm?documentID=4122 |title=CDI: Fact Sheet on Space Based Infrared System|website=cdi.org|access-date=14 November 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071113202652/http://www.cdi.org/friendlyversion/printversion.cfm?documentID=4122|archive-date=13 November 2007}}</ref> In December 2005, following the third SBIRS Nunn-McCurdy violation, the government decided to compete SBIRS GEO-4 and SBIRS GEO-5, with an option to buy the SBIRS GEO-3 contingent based on the performance of the first two.<ref name=geo56contract />

On 2 June 2009, [[Company:Lockheed Martin|Lockheed Martin]] announced it had been awarded a contract for the third SBIRS HEO payload and the third SBIRS GEO satellite, and for associated ground equipment modifications.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lockheedmartin.com/news/press_releases/2009/0602ss-sbirs.html|title=U.S. Air Force Awards Lockheed Martin US$1.5-Billion Contract For SBIRS Follow-On Spacecraft|publisher=Lockheed Martin |date=June 2, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090605074247/http://www.lockheedmartin.com/news/press_releases/2009/0602ss-sbirs.html|archive-date=June 5, 2009}}</ref> On 10 July 2009, Lockheed Martin was awarded US$262.5 million as down payment by the USAF towards the purchase of a fourth satellite.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/rbssIndustryMaterialsUtilitiesNews/idUSN1026553020090710|title=Lockheed gets US$262.5 million U.S. satellite down payment|work=Reuters|date=July 10, 2009|first=Julie
|last=Vorman}}</ref> The first SBIRS GEO satellite of the SBIRS program, [[Engineering:USA-230|SBIRS GEO-1]], was successfully launched from Cape Canaveral on an [[Engineering:Atlas V|Atlas V]] launch vehicle on 7 May 2011.<ref name="United Launch Alliance report">{{cite press release|title=United Launch Alliance Marks 50th Successful Launch by Delivering the Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) Satellite to Orbit for the U.S. Air Force|url=http://www.ulalaunch.com/united-launch-alliance-marks-50th.aspx?title=United+Launch+Alliance+Marks+50th+Successful+Launch+by+Delivering+the+Space-Based+Infrared+System+(SBIRS)+Satellite+to+Orbit+for+the+U.S.+Air+Force&archived=True&Category=all&Page=53|publisher=United Launch Alliance|access-date=14 November 2017|date=7 May 2011}}</ref> In June 2014, Lockheed Martin was contracted by the {{wipe|United States Air Force}} to build SBIRS GEO-5 and SBIRS GEO-6, at a cost of US$1.86 billion.<ref name=geo56contract>{{cite web|title=Contracts for May 25, 2017|date=25 May 2017|url=https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1194658/|publisher=U.S. Department of Defense|access-date=13 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.losangeles.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/734759/sbirs-geo-5-6-contract-awarded/|title=SBIRS GEO 5, 6 Contract Awarded|publisher=U.S. Air Force|location=Los Angeles Air Force Base|date=June 27, 2014|access-date=January 4, 2018}}</ref><ref name=geo56>{{cite press release|title=U.S. Air Force Awards Lockheed Martin Contract For Next Two SBIRS Missile Defense Early Warning Satellites|url=https://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/news/press-releases/2014/june/0624-ss-sbirs.html|website=lockheedmartin.com|publisher=Lockheed Martin|date=24 June 2014|access-date=13 November 2017}}</ref>

The FY 2021 budget allocates US$2.5 billion to SBIRS for the United States Space Force.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Releases/Release/Article/2079489/dod-releases-fiscal-year-2021-budget-proposal/|title=DoD Releases Fiscal Year 2021 Budget Proposal|publisher=U.S. Department of Defense|date=10 February 2020|access-date=11 February 2021}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

==SBIRS High==
[[File:SBIRS-GEO.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|right|{{center|SBIRS High GEO}}]]
'''SBIRS High''' (also now simply referred to as "SBIRS") is to consist of four dedicated satellites operating in geosynchronous Earth orbit, and sensors on two host satellites operating in a highly elliptical orbit. SBIRS High will replace the [[Engineering:Defense Support Program|Defense Support Program]] (DSP) satellites and is intended primarily to provide enhanced strategic and theater ballistic missile warning capabilities. [[Engineering:USA-230|SBIRS High GEO 1]] was launched on 7 May 2011.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-military-satellite-idUSTRE7462AW20110507|title=Rocket blasts off with missile-warning satellite |work=Reuters|date=7 May 2011}}</ref> Two SBIRS sensors hosted on two classified satellites in highly elliptical orbit have already been launched,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lockheedmartin.com/news/press_releases/2009/0602ss-sbirs.html|title=U.S. Air Force Awards Lockheed Martin US$1.5-Billion Contract For SBIRS Follow-On Spacecraft|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090605074247/http://www.lockheedmartin.com/news/press_releases/2009/0602ss-sbirs.html|archive-date=2009-06-05}}</ref> probably as part of the NROL-22 (USA 184) and NROL-28 (USA 200) launches in 2006 and 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Sep-2005/0336.html|title=Molczan in Satobs message 30 September 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Feb-2008/0515.html|title=Molczan in Satobs message 24 February 2008}}</ref> USA 184 and USA 200 are believed by analysts to be [[Signals intelligence|ELINT]] satellites in the family of [[Engineering:Jumpseat (satellite)|JUMPSEAT]] and TRUMPET; TRUMPET has been reported to have carried an infrared sensor called HERITAGE.

The prime contractor for SBIRS is [[Company:Lockheed Martin|Lockheed Martin]], with [[Company:Northrop Grumman|Northrop Grumman]] as the major subcontractor. Lockheed Martin also provides the satellite for SBIRS GEO. The system's expected deployment was delayed from December 2009 to 2011 because of problems with Lockheed's workmanship on system components, including unresolved software malfunctions and several broken solder joints in a subcontract procured [[Engineering:Gyroscope|gyroscope]] assembly on the first spacecraft being built.<ref>{{cite news |last=Capaccio |first=Tony |title=Delivery Delayed For Lockheed Martin's Early Warning Satellite |website=Bloomberg.com |date=30 September 2009}}</ref>

It was feared that a further launch postponement into late 2011 would lead to conflict with the planned launches of [[Organization:NASA|NASA]]'s [[Engineering:Juno (spacecraft)|Juno]] spacecraft and [[Organization:Mars Science Laboratory|Mars Science Laboratory]], which would all use the same launch facility.<ref>Thompson, Loren B. [http://www.lexingtoninstitute.org/launch-priority-missile-warning-has-to-come-first?a=1&c=1171 Launch Priority: Missile Warning Has To Come First] Lexington Institute 22 October 2010</ref> However, the first GEO launch, SBIRS GEO-1, was successfully conducted on 7 May 2011.<ref name="United Launch Alliance report"/>

According to a Reuters report, the first two SBIRS GEO satellites started operations in 2013.<ref name=LM56>{{cite web|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/lockheed-wins-1-9-billion-deal-u-missile-025735789--finance.html|title=Lockheed wins US$1.9 billion deal for U.S. missile-warning satellites|agency=Reuters|date=Jun 25, 2014}}</ref> SBIRS GEO-3 launched on 20 January 2017,<ref>{{cite press release|title=United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches SBIRS GEO Flight 3 Satellite to Orbit for U.S. Air Force|url=http://www.ulalaunch.com/ula-successfully-launches-sbirs-geo-flight-3.aspx|publisher=United Launch Alliance |access-date=14 November 2017|date=20 Jan 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Richardson|first1=Derek|title=Various issues prompt 24-hour scrub of Atlas V with SBIRS GEO-3 |url=http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/organizations/ula/various-issues-prompt-24-hour-scrub-of-atlas-v-with-sbirs-geo-3/|access-date=14 November 2017|publisher=Spaceflight Insider|date=19 January 2017}}</ref> and SBIRS GEO-4 was successfully deployed on 20 January 2018.<ref name="SBIRS GEO-4">{{cite web|last1=Clark|first1=Stephen|title=U.S. military satellite launched to fortify against missile attacks |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/01/20/u-s-military-satellite-launched-to-fortify-against-missile-attacks/|publisher=Spaceflight Now|access-date=26 January 2018}}</ref> In 2017, the United States Air Force requested US$1.4 billion in Fiscal Year 2018 for SBIRS, and funds for advance procurement of SBIRS 7 and 8.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Erwin|first1=Sandra|title=Production of new missile warning satellites likely delayed by budget impasse|publisher=SpaceNews|url=http://spacenews.com/production-of-new-missile-warning-satellites-likely-delayed-by-budget-impasse/|access-date=14 November 2017|date=20 October 2017}}</ref> While US$643 million in funding was provided for SBIRS in Fiscal Year 2019, funding for SBIRS 7 and 8 was eliminated in favor of a new program, NG-OPIR (Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared). Plans remained to launch SBIRS GEO-5 in 2021 and SBIRS GEO-6 in 2022.<ref name=Erwin/> SBIRS GEO-5 was successfully launched on 18 May 2021,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.space.com/atlas-v-rocket-launches-sbirs-geo-5-satellite|title=Atlas V rocket launches SBIRS GEO-5 missile warning satellite for US Space Force|date=18 May 2021|publisher=Space.com|access-date=1 June 2021}}</ref> while SBIRS GEO-6 was successfully launched on 4 August 2022.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ulalaunch.com/missions/next-launch/atlas-v-sbirs-geo-6 |title=Atlas V SBIRS GEO 6 |publisher=[[Company:United Launch Alliance|United Launch Alliance]] |access-date=2 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title= United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches Missile Warning Satellite for U.S. Space Force |publisher=[[Company:United Launch Alliance|United Launch Alliance]] |url=https://www.ulalaunch.com/about/news/2022/08/04/united-launch-alliance-successfully-launches-missile-warning-satellite-for-u.s.-space-force |access-date=4 August 2022}}</ref><ref name= sbirsSummary20yr >Lisa Sodders [https://www.stratcom.mil/Media/News/News-Article-View/Article/3128036/sbirs-geo-6-launch-closes-out-two-decades-of-progress-in-missile-warning-tracki/ (11 Aug 2022) SBIRS GEO-6 Launch Closes Out Two Decades of Progress in Missile Warning, Tracking and Detection; Next-Gen OPIR to Take the Helm]</ref>

==SBIRS Low (Space Tracking and Surveillance System)==
[[File:SBIRS-Low.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|right|{{center|SBIRS Low}}]]
The SBIRS Low contract is now managed by the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and has been renamed the Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS).

===Original SBIRS Low===
The '''SBIRS Low''' program was originally expected to consist of about 24 satellites in low Earth orbit. The primary purpose of SBIRS Low was the tracking of ballistic missiles; with discrimination between warheads and other objects, such as decoys, that separate from the missile bodies throughout the middle portion of their flights. The system was to have two major sensors, coordinated by an on-board computer:
*a scanning infrared sensor, designed to acquire ballistic missiles in the early stages of flight, and
*a tracking infrared sensor, designed to follow missiles, warheads, and other objects such as debris and decoys during the middle and later stages of flight. The tracking sensor would be cooled to very low temperatures.

SBIRS Low's original deployment schedule was 2010, the date when its capabilities were said to be needed by the National Missile Defense System.

===Space Tracking and Surveillance System===
In 2001, the Missile Defense Agency assessed the programs needed for a national ballistic missile defense system (BMDS) and found that they were lacking in the relatively new arena of space. The MDA decided to absorb the SBIRS Low constellation in its very early stages of development and renamed the program the Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS). This transition changed the direction of the program somewhat, but the overall mission remained the same — detection and tracking of ballistic missiles through all phases of flight.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-01-6 Space-Based Infrared System Low at Risk of Missing Initial Deployment Date, U.S. General Accounting Office, February 2001]
*[http://www.losangeles.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Article/734550/space-based-infrared-system-sbirs Fact Sheets: Space Based Infrared Systems: Space Based Infrared Systems]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090620111950/http://www.stratcom.mil/factsheets/tbmw/ Tactical Ballistic Missile Warning, U.S. Strategic Command]

{{USAF Weapons}}
{{US Reconnaissance Satellites}}
{{USAF space vehicles}}

[[Category:Infrared technology]]

{{Sourceattribution|Space-Based Infrared System}}