Inside Defense:
The Air Force’s fiscal year 2019 budget offers new details on its plan to recapitalize the Space-Based Infrared System and support future overhead persistent infrared requirements, even as the effort still lacks an approved acquisition strategy.
The service expects to need $7.3 billion over the next five years for the Evolved SBIRS effort, meant to improve the capability of the satellite and ground architecture that provides key missile warning capabilities. The budget request calls for $643 million in FY-19 research and development funds, $936 million in FY-20, $1.5 billion in FY-21, $2.2 billion in FY-22 and $2 billion in FY-23.
About $456 million of the $643 million requested for Evolved SBIRS in FY-19 — plus another $5.8 billion across the rest of the future years defense program — would be used for space and ground architecture evolution. The remaining $1 billion included in the FYDP would support Space Modernization Initiative projects for the entire SBIRS architecture, including parts obsolescence and upgrades for the legacy system as well as prototyping and risk-reduction for future capabilities.
