Missile Detection Satellites

2010 – French Missile Detection

France has several communications and technology development satellites, including two SPIRALE spacecraft in HEO. These microsatellites launched in 2009 serve as demonstrators for missile-warning capabilities. France has several communications and…

2013 – U.S. Missile Detection

Satellites are essential tools for detecting hostile missiles being fired at allied forces. Systems such as the USAF Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS)-High program are designed to monitor and give maximum…

2012 – U.S. Missile Detection

Some satellites are optimized to serve unique military functions. Missile launch detection satellites, such as the USAF Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS)-High program, are designed to monitor and give maximum warning…

Other Countries with Missile Detection and Defense

U.S. Missile Detection and Defense

Only two countries are known to operate global missile detection and warning satellites—Russia and the United States. During 2016, only one country, the United States, has been able to conduct…

2014 – U.S. Missile Defense

The U.S. Missile Defense Agency’s (MDA’s) two Space Tracking and Surveillance System-Demonstrator (STSS-D) satellites remained fairly quiet in 2014. Launched in September 2009, the satellites continue to circle the Earth…

2014 – Russian Missile Detection

As of early 2015, Russia was not able to detect missile launches by means of its Oko missile warning satellite system. The last two of the system’s HEO satellites ceased…

2014 – U.S. Missile Detection

There were two SBIRS GEO satellites and two SBIRS HEO payloads in operation by the end of 2014. These operated in concert with the older DSP satellites to fulfill all…

Infrastructure: Space Infrastructure – TSR 2015

Infrastructure: Space Infrastructure - TSR 2015 examines global human spaceflight operations, launch vehicles from all spacefaring nations, communications satellite constellations, PNT satellites, Earth observation and remote sensing satellites, defense satellites,…