US Space Force on track to launch next-generation missile monitoring satellites within 4 years

The network will watch for missile launches around the world, with countries such as Russia and China believed to be among the main concerns

Trade forum told that successful critical design review will pave way for first launches by 2025

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The US Space Force will operate the network. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 10:00pm, 26 Aug 2021Updated: 11:07pm, 26 Aug 2021

The US Space Force has said it is on track to start setting up its next-generation missile watching system within four years.

Colonel Brian Denaro, from the Space Development Corps, told the 2021 Space Symposium trade show on Wednesday that a critical design review should be completed by the end of the year.

The network, known as the Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared programme, will initially consist of five satellites – three in geostationary orbits and two in elliptical orbits to watch the poles – circling the earth to watch for missile launches.

“With this successful [review], we remain on schedule to launch the first GEO satellite in 2025,” Denaro said, according to the defence industry website C4ISRNET.

Zhou Chenming, a researcher from the Yuan Wang military science and technology institute in Beijing, said the programme was aimed at China, Russia and other countries with intercontinental ballistic missiles and anti-satellite weapons.

“The three in geostationary orbit will detect missile launches from around the globe, including China and other countries, while the two for polar coverage may be used to monitor Russia specifically,” he said.