SBIRS is a consolidated system intended to meet United States infrared space surveillance needs through the first two to three decades of the 21st century. The SBIRS program addresses critical warfighter needs in the areas of missile warning, missile defense battlespace awareness, and technical intelligence. During test execution, AFOTEC officials accelerated the Highly Elliptical Orbit schedule by leveraging Lockheed Martin planned developmental testing to meet operational testing objectives. AFOTEC officials also leveraged system trial period operations to further execute and report operational test requirements. Overall, these efforts enabled Highly Elliptical Orbit data to the warfighter approximately six weeks earlier than originally planned. By using agile reporting, AFOTEC officials informed the Air Force Space Command Highly Elliptical Orbit operational acceptance decision and enabled a U.S. Strategic Command system certification eight weeks early. AFOTEC officials are preparing for continued testing of a second Highly Elliptical Orbit payload, known as HEO-2. Although HEO-2 was not originally planned for operational testing, AFSPC officials are capitalizing on the HEO-1 momentum created by AFOTEC's new approach and is accelerating HEO-2 transition into the SBIRS constellation. Subsequent AFOTEC testing and reporting in the light of the Space Test Initiative will further accelerate HEO architecture operational acceptance and warfighter capabilities.
Satnews Daily
November 24th, 2008
U.S.A.F. Accelerates SBIRS
Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center officials at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico have successfully tested the Space-Based Infrared System Highly Elliptical Orbit payload and operations center and accelerated operational acceptance by six weeks.
SBIRS is a consolidated system intended to meet United States infrared space surveillance needs through the first two to three decades of the 21st century. The SBIRS program addresses critical warfighter needs in the areas of missile warning, missile defense battlespace awareness, and technical intelligence. During test execution, AFOTEC officials accelerated the Highly Elliptical Orbit schedule by leveraging Lockheed Martin planned developmental testing to meet operational testing objectives. AFOTEC officials also leveraged system trial period operations to further execute and report operational test requirements. Overall, these efforts enabled Highly Elliptical Orbit data to the warfighter approximately six weeks earlier than originally planned. By using agile reporting, AFOTEC officials informed the Air Force Space Command Highly Elliptical Orbit operational acceptance decision and enabled a U.S. Strategic Command system certification eight weeks early. AFOTEC officials are preparing for continued testing of a second Highly Elliptical Orbit payload, known as HEO-2. Although HEO-2 was not originally planned for operational testing, AFSPC officials are capitalizing on the HEO-1 momentum created by AFOTEC's new approach and is accelerating HEO-2 transition into the SBIRS constellation. Subsequent AFOTEC testing and reporting in the light of the Space Test Initiative will further accelerate HEO architecture operational acceptance and warfighter capabilities.
SBIRS system in operation...
SBIRS is a consolidated system intended to meet United States infrared space surveillance needs through the first two to three decades of the 21st century. The SBIRS program addresses critical warfighter needs in the areas of missile warning, missile defense battlespace awareness, and technical intelligence. During test execution, AFOTEC officials accelerated the Highly Elliptical Orbit schedule by leveraging Lockheed Martin planned developmental testing to meet operational testing objectives. AFOTEC officials also leveraged system trial period operations to further execute and report operational test requirements. Overall, these efforts enabled Highly Elliptical Orbit data to the warfighter approximately six weeks earlier than originally planned. By using agile reporting, AFOTEC officials informed the Air Force Space Command Highly Elliptical Orbit operational acceptance decision and enabled a U.S. Strategic Command system certification eight weeks early. AFOTEC officials are preparing for continued testing of a second Highly Elliptical Orbit payload, known as HEO-2. Although HEO-2 was not originally planned for operational testing, AFSPC officials are capitalizing on the HEO-1 momentum created by AFOTEC's new approach and is accelerating HEO-2 transition into the SBIRS constellation. Subsequent AFOTEC testing and reporting in the light of the Space Test Initiative will further accelerate HEO architecture operational acceptance and warfighter capabilities.