Raytheon Co. [RTN] completed a key satellite payload trade study with Northrop Grumman Corp. [NOC], the prime contractor for the Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS), Raytheon announced.
Results of the study may be used to enhance mission performance of follow-on STSS satellites and improve their capacity to provide timely midcourse tracking data and report missile attacks.
The Missile Defense Agency plans to develop and maintain a small constellation of satellites to detect enemy missiles through all phases of flight.
Building on its successful STSS demonstrator payload design, Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems seeks to provide system architecture and design sensor upgrades for the satellites.
Advanced demonstrator payloads developed by Raytheon consist of an acquisition and a tracking sensor and a processing subsystem for integration into STSS satellites. Raytheon’s early warning missile detection technology permits acquisition and tracking above and below the horizon.