MDA rebrands Missile Defense Tracking System the Space Sensor Layer

摘要

The Missile Defense Agency has rebranded the Missile Defense Tracking System - a space-based sensor network envisioned to track enemy long-range ballistic and hypersonic missiles from launch to impact ～ the Space Sensor Layer program and plans to brief industry this month on a second round of technology prototyping for the desired orbital capability. Early last year, MDA tapped the fledgling Space Enterprise Consortium (SpEC) to launch a prototyping campaign using other transaction authority for a capability the agency told Congress was the top unfunded priority in MDA's fiscal year 2019 budget request. In April, SpEC - acting on behalf of MDA's Space Systems Program Office ～ awarded nine contracts for the Missile Defense Tracking System (MTS) Phase I Prototype Concept Design phase. At press time (Jan. 2), neither MDA nor SpEC would identify the companies awarded these contracts. Now, MDA is readying plans for a follow-on project ～ which adopts the Space Sensor Layer name for the former Missile Defense Tracking System, according to a Dec. 26 Federal Business Opportunities. On Jan. 15, SpEC will host an industry day for the Space Sensor Layer Phase IIa-Prototype Payload Design and Signal-chain Processing Risk Reduction Demonstration Project, according to the notice. "SSL Phase IIa encompasses a Preliminary Concept Review (PCR) with a signal-chain processing (SCP) demonstration," the notice states. "The objective of SSL is to develop and test sensing capabilities that will become a part of a Resilient Integrated Multi-tier Overhead Persistent Infrared Enterprise Architecture, addressing warfighter requirements. SSL will be an integral part of a future operational space layer."