TRW has received a $869 million contract to build two demonstration satellites for the Space-Based Infrared System-Low (SBIRS-Low), as projected costs of its companion SBIRS-High soar almost 25% to $8.4 billion, says the US Department of Defense.
TRW was made SBIRS-Low prime contractor earlier this year when the US Missile Defense Agency restructured the programme after substantial delays and cost overruns. The two demonstration satellites will be launched in 2006 or 2007. The contract includes unpriced options for up to eight additional spacecraft.
SBIRS will detect and report ballistic missile launches, and provide mid-course tracking and target data for missile defence. SBIRS-Low is planned as a constellation of up to 30 low-Earth orbit satellites, complemented by SBIRS-High spacecraft in geosynchronous and highly elliptical orbits.
The SBIRS-High programme, led by prime contractor Lockheed Martin, is also being restructured because of technical issues and budget overruns.
Source: Flight International