U.S. military seeks to maintain and improve on hypersonic missile defense using orbiting satellites

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – The U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) in Huntsville, Ala., will continue development of a space-based sensor capable of tracking hypersonic threats even though funding for the program is moving to the Space Development Agency. C4ISRnet reports. Continue reading original article

The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:

2 April 2020 -- The Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS) is meant to counter the growing threat of hypersonic weapons being developed by Russia and China.

Using a proliferated constellation of sensors in low earth orbit, HBTSS will be able to detect, track and maintain custody of hypersonic weapons as they traverse the globe, feeding that information to fire control systems that can eliminate the threat.

HBTSS will be part of the SDA’s new architecture consisting of hundred of satellites working together in low earth orbit, with the first tranche expected on orbit in 2022.

Related: Aerojet Rocketdyne to develop missile defense enabling technologies to counter enemy hypersonic threats

Related: Hypersonic weapons and missile defenses are among the nation's highest priorities: former Pentagon official

Related: Barrier is high for developing enabling technologies for hypersonic weapons and missile defense

John Keller, chief editor
Military & Aerospace Electronics