Lockheed Martin launches final missile warning satellite

Lockheed Martin announced on Thursday that it has successfully launched its sixth missile warning satellite from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

The satellite is the last of the US Space Force’s Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) program.

It can collect crucial data, enabling the US military to detect missile launches, support ballistic missile defense, and expand technical intelligence gathering.

The SBIRS satellite also helps in bolstering soldiers’ situational awareness on the battlefield.

“The need for overhead persistent infrared systems has never been more critical,” Lockheed Martin official Michael Corriea said in a press release. “At Lockheed Martin, we are making advancements to keep pace with evolving needs based on emerging threats.”

‘Greater Technological Capacity’

The launch of the sixth SBIRS satellite is described as a “critical” step as rivals continue to invest in ballistic missile technologies.

Lockheed said that over 1,000 missile launches are tracked every year, thus the need for an effective tracking system.

“Lockheed Martin recognizes that modernized technology is needed to augment the current missile warning architecture and improve resiliency against attacks,” the company states.

The recent launch illustrates that the US Space Force is achieving “an even greater technological capacity.”