The Space Based Infrared System
(SBIRS) High team led by prime contractor Lockheed Martin Space Systems
Company successfully completed the system critical design review (CDR) with
its customer, the U.S. Air Force, on August 30-31. The review demonstrated
that SBIRS High would meet the customer’s requirements and establish the
foundation for the next generation space-based surveillance systems.
More than 300 people from the Air Force, Department of Defense and industry
participated in the two-day session at Lockheed Martin’s Sunnyvale facility.

The CDR validated that the SBIRS High architecture supports Air Force space
surveillance requirements and operating concepts. SBIRS High ground systems
are planned to be compatible with legacy Defense Support Program (DSP) and
SBIRS satellites. The successful system CDR was preceded by extensive
reviews of the payload sensors, the geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO)
spacecraft, and ground segment designs earlier this summer.

“The critical design review shows that the Air Force believes our SBIRS
system design will enable the military to detect and report infrared events
faster and more accurately than ever before,” said Jeff Harris, president
Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company * Missiles & Space Operations.

The SBIRS program will provide the nation with new worldwide missile
detection and tracking capabilities. It is an integrated “system of systems”
with multiple space components and an evolving ground element. Increment 1,
currently being evaluated for initial operational capability later this
year, will consolidate functions of three legacy DSP ground stations into
one and provide an open architecture to accommodate SBIRS High and Low
components as they are fielded. Increment 2, also known as SBIRS High, will
add four satellites in geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO) and two sensors in
highly elliptical orbit (HEO). Increment 3, or SBIRS Low, will add 20-to-30
satellites in low earth orbit (LEO) to provide mid-course missile tracking.

Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor for SBIRS Increments 1 and 2, and
overall “system of systems” integrator for the three increments. Key members
of the Lockheed Martin team are Northrop Grumman, Aerojet, Honeywell and
SAIC.

Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, headquartered in Denver, Colo., is
one of the major operating units of Lockheed Martin Corporation. Space
Systems designs, develops, tests, manufactures and operates a variety of
advanced technology systems for military, civil and commercial customers.
Chief products include a full-range of space launch systems, including
heavy-lift capability, ground systems, remote sensing and communications
satellites for commercial and government customers, advanced space
observatories and interplanetary spacecraft, fleet ballistic missiles and
missile defense systems.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a highly diversified
global enterprise principally engaged in the research, design, development,
manufacture and integration of advanced-technology systems, products and
services. The Corporation’s core businesses span space and
telecommunications, electronics, information and services, aeronautics,
energy and systems integration. Lockheed Martin had 2000 sales surpassing
$25 billion.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Caption for photo above: CAPTION: Col. Dan Cvelbar (left)
explains a computer demonstration to SBIRS Program Director Col. Mark
Borkowski (right) during the SBIRS High system critical design review at
Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company in Sunnyvale, Calif. Col. Cvelbar is
the SBIRS High System program manager.

Low- and high-resolution JPEG image files of program officials reviewing
SBIRS High system demonstrations are available at the following URL:

http://lmms.external.lmco.com/photos/defensive_systems and click on Space
Based Infrared System – SBIRS.