Resilient Missile Warning Missile Tracking - Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)

Resilient Missile Warning Missile Tracking - Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), is a collaborative effort between the United States Space Force (USSF) Space Systems Command (SSC) and Space Development Agency (SDA) to deliver Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) capabilities. The program aims to support a proliferated space architecture, resilient-by-design, capable of operating through contested environments. This includes deploying space assets in multiple epochs to allow for incremental capability delivery and ensure competition throughout the program's lifecycle. The specific objectives include bolstering legacy Space Based Infrared Satellite (SBIRS) and Next-Gen OPIR capabilities, independently satisfying all mission area CDD requirements for both missile warning and tracking by FY 2031, and supporting the development and implementation of a system-of-systems integration strategy across MW/MT/MD constellations supporting LEO, MEO, and GEO/Polar orbit regimes.

The FY 2024 funding for Program PE 1206447SF supports space segment long-lead parts purchases, space vehicle bus and main mission payload assembly, integration and test, and early on-orbit initialization studies for up to three vendors to support the first Epoch 1 launch in FY 2026. The program also includes necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver MW/MT capability. Additionally, the program aims to rapidly transition the MTCD from a single satellite sensor demonstration to a multiple satellite coordinated prototype effort tied to a cross-linked initial warfighting capability of the future architecture. This involves developing SVs 2 and beyond with plans to achieve a multiple orbital plane prototype and expanding development for Command and Control (C2) and Mission Data Processing (MDP) to meet the initial warfighter capability for sensitivity, accuracy, and latency of the MW/MT MEO space layer.

In summary, Program PE 1206447SF focuses on developing resilient missile warning and tracking capabilities in medium earth orbit to counter advanced missiles, hypersonic glide vehicles, and fractional orbital bombardment threats. It aims to achieve this by deploying space assets in multiple epochs, supporting system-of-systems integration across different orbit regimes, bolstering legacy capabilities, satisfying mission area requirements by FY 2031, and rapidly transitioning from single satellite sensor demonstration to a multiple satellite coordinated prototype effort tied to a cross-linked initial warfighting capability.