Leidos infrared sensors to strengthen Golden Dome missile defence architecture

Under the agreement, Sierra Space will integrate Leidos’ infrared sensing payloads and onboard digital signal-processing capabilities into 18 satellites being developed for the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Accelerated Missile Defense Tranche 3 (AMDT3) tracking layer.

The satellites will be designed to provide persistent detection and tracking of hypersonic and other advanced missile threats from low-Earth orbit (LEO).

The program forms part of the US effort to develop a more resilient and geographically distributed missile warning and tracking architecture while supporting the broader objectives of the Golden Dome for America missile defence initiative.

Leidos said its payloads combine infrared sensing with onboard processing, allowing mission-relevant tracking information to be generated directly aboard each satellite rather than relying exclusively on ground-based processing.

The approach is intended to reduce latency and allow actionable information to reach military operators more rapidly.

Leidos will also provide ground support equipment, mission expertise, operations support and sustainment throughout the program.

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“AMDT3 will build upon proven technologies to accelerate global missile defence capability,” said Cindy Gruensfelder, president of Leidos Defense.

“Leidos has already demonstrated these technologies on orbit, and with Sierra Space, we will rapidly transition that proven capability into an operational missile defence constellation that will help protect the nation against advanced missile threats.”

The AMDT3 program builds on Leidos’ existing contribution to the SDA’s proliferated LEO architecture.

The company’s four Tranche 0 infrared payloads have been operating in orbit since 2023, producing tracks of real-world events. Leidos is also supplying 14 missile warning and tracking sensors for Tranche 1 and a further 16 for Tranche 2, alongside two dedicated missile defence sensors for Tranche 2.

The accumulated flight heritage is intended to reduce the technological risk associated with transitioning the sensors into the larger AMDT3 constellation.

The program reflects a fundamental shift in US missile warning architecture from a relatively small number of highly capable satellites towards proliferated constellations containing larger numbers of interconnected spacecraft.

Such architectures are designed to provide greater geographic coverage and resilience while making it more difficult for an adversary to disrupt the overall sensor network by targeting individual satellites.

Space-based infrared sensors are particularly important for missile defence because they can detect the intense heat signatures generated by missile launches and subsequently contribute to tracking targets throughout their flight.

The ability to perform processing aboard the spacecraft also offers potential advantages against increasingly fast and manoeuvrable threats, including hypersonic weapons.

For Leidos, the Sierra Space agreement further expands its role across SDA’s tracking architecture and advances the company’s transition from technology demonstration towards operational missile defence capability.

As the SDA continues expanding its tracking layer, the integration of flight-proven infrared sensors into proliferated LEO satellites will provide another component of the resilient sensing network intended to support homeland defence, regional military operations and the emerging US space-based missile defence architecture.

Stephen Kuper

Author

Steve has an extensive career across government, defence industry and advocacy, having previously worked for cabinet ministers at both Federal and State levels.

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