Defense News:
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The Air Force is aiming to slash four years off the procurement of the next generation of missile warning satellites, reducing the time to develop and field the first satellite from nine years to five years, the service’s top civilian announced Tuesday.
During the fiscal year 2019 budget release, the Air Force announced its plans to cancel the 7th and 8th satellites in the Space Based Infrared System constellation, or SBIRS, which provides early-warning capability to the nation’s missile defense system. Instead, it will transition to a new program called Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared.
Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson wants the new satellites to be more survivable and fielded more quickly, and will announce in a speech Tuesday night at Space Symposium that her goal is to shave four years off the program…
