The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency has announced the certification and acceptance of the Space Based Infrared Systems, Highly Elliptical Orbit data for use in support of technical intelligence missions.  Mr. Dennis Lee, Chief, Overhead Persistent Infrared Systems for NGA, approved formal certification after a comprehensive review of test results at a meeting in Herndon, Virginia. The purpose of the technical intelligence certification process is to assure intelligence contributing systems provide reliable, timely, accurate, and unambiguous data for use in U.S. intelligence production.  The milestone culminates more than two years of test planning and operational refinements, rigorous functionality testing, and data feasibility and characterization assessments by a joint NGA, National Air and Space Intelligence Center, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and SBIRS Wing team.  Technical intelligence is one of four designated missions the SBIRS system supports, complementing the others: missile warning, missile defense, and battlespace awareness.    

“Technical intelligence certification of the HEO data is a significant achievement shared by the entire SBIRS team.  NGA’s certification validates the effectiveness of SBIRS capabilities to the intelligence mission and is a testament to the hard work and success of the combined team.  We are very pleased with the growing contributions of the SBIRS system to the broader national security space community” said Col. Roger W. Teague, Commander of the Space and Missile Systems Center’s, Space Based Infrared Systems Wing, following the certification declaration. The SBIRS technical intelligence certification closely follows successful certification of the HEO system for missile warning operations by U.S. Strategic Command on Aug 7, 2009.