USSF Awards Missile Track Custody Prototype Effort
The U.S. Space Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) has awarded two contracts for the Missile Track Custody Prototype effort. The effort will carry two contractors – Millennium Space Systems and Raytheon – through a payload Critical Design Review and delivery of digital models.
The Missile Track Custody Prototype effort will develop digital models, evaluating the ability of various Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared sensor designs to meet missile tracking requirements. These initial contracts will deliver and validate missile tracking designs and verify predicted performance.
“This effort is a key component of SMC’s Digital Engineering strategy, enabling the government to incorporate and connect multiple contractor models in an automated digital environment, said Col. Timothy Sejba, SMC’s program executive officer for space development. “In addition, it will support U.S. Space Force’s architecture analysis by providing realistic cost, schedule, and performance predictions, essentially enabling a digital ‘try it before you buy it’ approach.”
The SMC Track Custody team is actively coordinating with the Space Development Agency, Missile Defense Agency, Space Warfighting Analysis Center, and Space Force Enterprise Architect Office. This effort aligns with the overarching Missile Warning and Missile Defense Strategy without overlapping or duplicating efforts of others.
“The Missile Track Custody Prototype effort is the first under the new Space Enterprise Consortium (SpEC) other transaction agreement awarded on January 15,” Sejba said. “This allows SMC to tap into a fast-growing, innovative market and collaborate with non-traditional vendors like small businesses and academia. Since 2017, SpEC has minimized barriers to entry for small businesses and nontraditional vendors, while reducing procurement timelines with lower cost.”
SMC is the center of acquisition excellence for acquiring and developing military space systems. The center’s portfolio includes the Space Launch and Range Systems, Global Positioning System, Military Satellite Communications, Space-Based Environmental Monitoring Systems, Satellite Control Networks, Overhead Persistent Infrared Systems, and Space Domain Awareness capabilities.
Top Stories
INSIDERManned Systems
Turkey's KAAN Combat Aircraft Completes First Flight - Mobility Engineering...
INSIDERMaterials
FAA Expands Boeing 737 Investigation to Manufacturing and Production Lines -...
INSIDERImaging
New Video Card Enables Supersonic Vision System for NASA's X-59 Demonstrator -...
INSIDERManned Systems
Stratolaunch Approaches Hypersonic Speed in First Powered TA-1 Test Flight -...
INSIDERUnmanned Systems
Army Ends Future Attack and Reconnaissance Helicopter Development Program -...
ArticlesEnergy
Can Solid-State Batteries Commercialize by 2030? - Mobility Engineering...
Webcasts
AR/AI
From Data to Decision: How AI Enhances Warfighter Readiness
Energy
April Battery & Electrification Summit
Manufacturing & Prototyping
Tech Update: 3D Printing for Transportation in 2024
Test & Measurement
Building an Automotive EMC Test Plan
Manufacturing & Prototyping
The Moon and Beyond from a Thermal Perspective
Software
Mastering Software Complexity in Automotive: Is Release Possible...