Lockheed Martin has announced the launch readiness of an upcoming military space satellite designed to provide missile warning via infrared technology.
The company said Wednesday its fifth Space-Based Infrared System Geosynchronous Earth Orbit satellite or SBIRS GEO-5 is set for flight in 2021, following the satellite's completion in October this year.
SBIRS GEO-5 features Lockheed's new LM 2100 combat bus that will also serve as a component of SBIRS GEO-6, which is scheduled for launch in 2022.
SBIRS GEO satellites use infrared sensors to detect and deter missile threats. These sensors are designed to operate on a 24-7 basis.
“In 2019 alone, SBIRS detected nearly one thousand missile launches, which is about a two-fold increase in two years," said Tom McCormick, vice president for overhead persistent infrared systems at Lockheed Martin.