General Dynamics in Fairfax, Va., was awarded a $23.3 million contract by the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center in Los Angeles to support research and development efforts on the Alternative Infrared Satellite System (AIRSS) program. Under this contract, General Dynamics will perform system requirements reviews, system design reviews and solution refinements to define alternatives to the Space Based Infrared High (SBIRS-High) GEO-3 satellite program. The AIRSS program is intended to provide strategic and tactical missile warning and missile defense for the U.S., beginning in 2015.

General Dynamics will also evaluate space and ground system integration approaches for geosynchronous and highly elliptical orbit applications. The total contract duration is 18 months.

The work will be performed at General Dynamics facilities in Gilbert, Ariz. Teammates on the program include Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems, El Segundo, Calif.; Raytheon Intelligence and Information Systems, Garland, Texas; and Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems, Linthicum, Md.