The Air Force has accepted for operations the second space based infrared system on-orbit payload, moving that payload one step closer to full operational status later this year, according to lead contractor Lockheed Martin. In a release July 24, the company said this payload, dubbed HEO-2, “has been exceeding expectations” during the test regimen necessary for it to be cleared for operations to warn of ballistic missile launches as part of the US network of early warning satellites. The final step is for US Strategic Command to formally certify HEO-2 for operations. This milestone is expected in August, said Lockheed. “HEO performance continues to be spectacular,” said Col. Roger Teague, commander of the Air Force’s SBIRS Wing. USAF’s acceptance came after an operational utility evaluation and trial period, during which live HEO-2 data was injected into operational missile warning networks, said Lockheed. HEO-2 will join HEO-1, which was cleared for operations last December.
The Air Force is moving forward with a new, algorithm-driven system to help U.S. Northern Command better detect airborne threats. NORTHCOM and the North American Aerospace Defense Command, which are tasked with protecting the homeland from attack, depend on a slew of radars and other data systems to monitor U.S.…