U.S. Air Force approves Lockheed Martin's SBIRS ground system

The U.S. Air Force has signed off on Lockheed Martin's planned Space Based Infrared System ground system.

The Space Based Infrared System, or SBIRS, is a component of the branch's satellite constellation responsible for compiling large amounts of data for defense and intelligence reports. Lockheed Martin officials say the upcoming upgrades will make the constellation more effective.

"With the Block 10 upgrade, the mission-critical data supplied by SBIRS is now being managed from a single ground control station, which is not only cost-efficient, but also more effective in providing our Air Force operators with the ability to characterize threats and quickly provide that information to military commanders deployed around the globe," Lockheed Martin Overhead Persistent Infrared Systems vice president David Sheridan said in a press release.

Once completed, the ground system will support existing missions such as missile warning, technical intelligence gathering, and battlespace awareness. Lockheed Martin will tasked with providing operations and sustainment support while continuing to bolster cybersecurity capabilities.

The new project aims to replace the existing ground support segment which has been in operation since 2001.