Threats to our national security increase every day as the United States’ near-peer adversaries develop and field sophisticated weapons on accelerated timelines – including hypersonic missiles that are faster, more elusive and more dangerous than ever before.
U.S. Space Force Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Salzman described the current environment at the Mitchell Institute’s annual Spacepower Security Forum earlier in 2024. “We must protect our space capabilities while being able to deny an adversary the hostile use of its space capabilities,“ said Salzman. “It allows the joint force to effectively engage strategic rivals and does not compromise the safety, security, stability, and long-term sustainability of the domain.”
L3Harris, for our part, is rising to the challenge by delivering resilient, integrated, space-based missile warning, tracking and defense capabilities the U.S. needs to stay ahead of adversary threats.
“The adversary won’t wait, and neither can we,” said Rob Mitrevski, Vice President and General Manager, Spectral Solutions, L3Harris. “We’re honored to play a leading role in adding vital capabilities to the U.S. military’s multi-layered missile warning and defense architecture. Our solutions help give the warfighter every advantage to stay ahead of advanced threats like hypersonic missiles.”
Answering the call to defend against emerging threats
Over the past year, L3Harris has made significant progress in developing solutions that rapidly and affordably address the nation’s most critical missile warning, tracking and defense challenges. Successes include:
- Completing Critical Design Review and Production Readiness Review for SDA's Tranche 1 Tracking Layer program in December 2023. As part of the $800 million contract, we’re building a 16-vehicle constellation with advanced technology designed to identify and track hypersonic missiles.
- Receiving a $919 million contract from the SDA in January 2024 to build 18 space vehicles for the agency’s Tranche 2 Tracking Layer program, which will provide near-global missile warning and tracking coverage with preliminary missile defense. This builds on our work to date on prior SDA Tracking Layer tranches and other missile warning, tracking and defense solutions for the MDA and SSC.
- Designing, building and testing five missile-tracking satellites for the MDA’s Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS) program and the SDA’s Tranche 0 Tracking Layer program. The satellites successfully launched into orbit from Cape Canaveral, Fla., in February 2024.
- Completing Preliminary Design Review for the infrared (IR) sensor payload for the SSC's Missile Track Custody (MTC) Epoch 1 satellite constellation in February 2024. These advanced missile detection and tracking capabilities will provide a resilient layer in medium Earth orbit. The project builds on L3Harris’ 60-plus years of expertise designing, building and testing mission-critical IR instruments in both geosynchronous orbit and low-Earth orbit.
Technology “building blocks” accelerate progress
“As the only prime working on Space Development Agency, Missile Defense Agency and U.S. Space Force programs, L3Harris uses a common technology approach with building blocks to save the U.S. government money and reduce risks,” said Mitrevski. “Our common core of capabilities is applied across the kill chain and in multiple orbits to address the needs of each customer. This prevents our customers from paying three times for three unique designs – increasing our offering maturity, cost efficiencies, and interoperability across the U.S. government architecture."
Outpacing the threat with advanced innovation
L3Harris will keep its foot on the accelerator in the months ahead. Projected Missile Warning and Defense milestones and deliverables include:
- Completing our first IR sensor unit, as well as a Ground Readiness Review and System Readiness Review, for the SDA’s Tranche 1 Tracking Layer program.
- Completing System Requirements Review and System Design Review for the SDA’s Tranche 2 Tracking Layer program.
- Completing Critical Design Review on the IR sensor payload for the SSC’s MTC Epoch 1 satellite constellation.
To meet current and future customer needs, we’re also investing heavily in scaling operations, with a focus on physical, process and personnel. Plans include building a new 60,000-square-foot IR sensor production facility in Indiana, with capacity to support the assembly, integration and testing of sensors; as well as a 90,000-square-foot space vehicle integration facility in Florida that will double L3Harris’ capacity to integrate and test satellites.
Space superiority is fundamental to modern defense in the hypersonic age, and there’s never been a more urgent need to invest in and strengthen our nation’s space capabilities. L3Harris has stepped up to meet the U.S. government's call for innovation and will continue our role as a trusted disruptor, delivering new capabilities that keep our warfighter – and nation – safe in the years ahead.
Learn more about L3Harris’ missile warning, tracking and defense capabilities.
