Task Completed Ahead of Schedule By Space and Missile Systems Center

Mission completed ahead of time—what a terrific accomplishment for the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center. The center has completed, before the due date, two advanced missile warning sensor prototypes to be delivered as part of the Risk Reduction program for the Alternative Infrared Satellite System (AISS). The sensors, one developed by Science Applications International Corporation and one by Raytheon Company (see Raytheon story), were delivered in less than 18 months from contract start. RR-AIRSS is sponsored by SMC and managed by the Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate in Albuquerque, New Mexico. SMC initiated the 80M/USD RR-AIRSS program in September 2006 to further Wide-Field-Of-View infrared sensor technology and manufacturing readiness for the AIRSS program. AIRSS has since been tasked as the follow-on to the Space Based Infrared System and renamed Third Generation Infrared Surveillance Risk Reduction. This has not gone unnoticed, as the 3GIRS Program was awarded the Air Force Space Command’s Agile Acquisition Transformation Leadership Award for 2007— El Segundo, CA