Leidos will provide flight-proven infrared sensors for 18 missile defense satellites being built by Sierra Space for the US Golden Dome missile defense initiative.
Leidos will provide flight-proven infrared sensors for 18 missile defense satellites being built by Sierra Space, expanding the space-based tracking network supporting the US Golden Dome missile defense initiative.
Sierra Space selected Leidos to supply the sensing payloads for satellites designed to detect and track hypersonic and other advanced missile threats from low Earth orbit.
The satellites are part of the Advanced Missile Detection and Tracking Tranche 3 program. Sierra Space will integrate the payloads into the satellite constellation, while Leidos will supply ground support equipment, mission expertise, operational support, and sustainment.
According to Leidos, its payloads combine infrared sensing with onboard digital signal processing that generates tracking data directly on the satellite. Processing data in orbit reduces latency and enables missile tracking information to reach operators more quickly.
Golden Dome Contracts
The Leidos award adds to a growing list of contracts supporting the Golden Dome missile defense initiative, a layered homeland defense system designed to counter advanced missile threats.
The US Department of Defense increased the project's projected cost by up to $10 billion to accelerate the development of space-based capabilities.
Earlier, in July, Sierra Space and L3Harris Technologies each secured contracts to build 18 missile warning and tracking satellites for the program.
During the same month, the Missile Defense Agency selected TOTE Services and Hanwha Philly Shipyard to construct two next-generation missile tracking ships under a $2-billion effort supporting the Golden Dome architecture.
