Space Force New Missile Warning Satellites

The Space Force has high hopes for its newly developed missile warning satellites, a new era of systems aiming to better detect enemy missiles and implement stronger protection against counter-space weapons.

The current Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) will be replaced by the Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared platform (Next-Gen OPIR). Infrared sensors are a key component of intelligence-gathering because they can detect heat emanating from enemy missiles and alert other assets.

The Space Force plans to launch the first Next-Gen OPIR satellite in 2025. Because much of the information is confidential, officials have kept quiet about the new system’s full defense capabilities.

Source: National Defense