Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor

The Hypersonic Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS) is a satellite-based sensor system being developed by the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) to guide the Glide Phase Interceptor (GPI) against enemy hypersonic missiles.[1]

HBTSS emerged after the 2019 Missile Defense Review suggested the development of better space-based targeting systems for national missile defense. It is designed to track missiles from launch to interception.[2] It is to be integrated into the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA), a broader set of satellite constellations being developed by the Space Development Agency (SDA).[2] PWSA will consist of seven layers: data tracking, transport, custody, battle management, navigation, deterrence, and support.[3] The HBTSS will be a part of the tracking layer, whose goal is to "provide global indications, warning, tracking, and targeting of advanced missile threats, including hypersonic missile systems."[3] SDA-developed Wide Field of View (WFoV) satellites will cue HBTSS, which will use Medium Field of View (MFoV) to provide higher-quality data—"fire control data"—to ground-based interceptors.[3][4] This setup is needed because normal radars may miss hypersonic glide vehicles such as the Russian Avangard and Chinese Starry Sky-2.[2]

In January 2021, the Missile Defense Agency awarded L3Harris Technologies and Northrop Grumman hundreds of millions of dollars to design, build, and demonstrate prototype satellites for the HBTSS.[5] By December 2021, these prototypes had passed design reviews, enabling manufacturing to start.[5][1] Officials planned to launch two demonstration sensors into orbit by fiscal year 2023.[1] In February 2024, the Department of Defense Defense announced that two prototype HBTSS satellites had been launched to orbit.[6] In April 2025, L3Harris officials said they were ready to go into full-rate production for HBTSS satellites, but Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman said the PWSA was "nowhere near” finalized.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Better Oversight and Coordination Needed for Counter-Hypersonic Development" (PDF). GAO.
  2. ^ a b c "Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS) – Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance". Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  3. ^ a b c "Hypersonic Missile Defense: Issues for Congress" (PDF). sgp.fas.org.
  4. ^ "Moving U.S. Tracking Sensors to Space1" (PDF). National Institute for Public Policy.
  5. ^ a b Strout, Nathan (2021-12-21). "New hypersonic missile-tracking satellites pass critical design review". Defense News. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
  6. ^ Lentz, Danny (February 14, 2024). "SpaceX launches missile tracking satellites for MDA and SDA".
  7. ^ Decker, Audrey (2025-04-18). "Industry eyes 'wicked hard' Golden Dome space interceptor challenge". Defense One. Retrieved 2026-02-04.
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