Raytheon Technologies (NYSE: RTX) and Millennium Space Systems have received separate contracts to create digital models of sensor technology for the U.S. Space Force’s future missile warning satellite constellation.
The Missile Track Custody Prototype contracts call for the two companies to perform modeling work as part of the Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared program, the Space and Missile Systems Center said Wednesday.
USSF intends to assess Next-Gen OPIR sensor designs against missile tracking requirements as part of the effort.
Col. Timothy Sejba, program executive officer for space development at SMC, said the prototype effort represents the first initiative under an other transaction agreement with Space Enterprise Consortium the service branch unveiled on Jan. 15 and serves as a key element of the center’s digital engineering strategy.
Sejba added that the project supports what the service branch calls a “try it before you buy it” contracting approach.