Hypersonic & Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS) Prototyping

Abstract

HBTSS will demonstrate a resilient, flexible, and global capability to detect and track hypersonic missiles and detect and track ballistic missiles in the boost phase of flight. The fire-control quality tracking data will allow long range engagement of the threat while enhanced tracking accuracy through missile burn out will provide the Warfighting community increased capability in missile defense weapons systems engagement and higher accuracy impact predictions. The HBTSS prototype demonstration's priority is to maintain the pace of the development schedule given the urgent Warfighter need to address rapidly developing threats. To meet this priority, HBTSS must use high technology readiness level components, take advantage of existing Government capabilities to minimize development, use a management culture that does not slow down the pace of development, and use Other Transaction Authority (OTA) to minimize contracting cycle times. OTAs allow the Government to work with traditional, non-traditional, and new space businesses to identify innovative solutions. The HBTSS prototype demonstration seeks to demonstrate the ability to meet requirements derived from United States Strategic Command Prioritized Capabilities List, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, and the Joint Requirements Oversight Council Capability Development Document for Missile Warning (MW)/Missile Defense (MD) Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR). The HBTSS developed target detection algorithms and evaluated them in a Signal-chain Processing Demonstration, providing insight into the constellation architecture, communications approach, and preliminary command and control design aspects. These results informed the development of the HBTSS prototype demonstration Space Vehicles (SVs) and demonstrated the ability to detect and track dim targets in a cluttered background along with the sensitivity necessary to support the hypersonic kill chain. Operationally, the HBTSS fire-control capability will be part of Space Development Agency's Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture and will detect hypersonic, ballistic, and other advanced threats much sooner than terrestrial radars, providing hypersonic threat-tracking data for hand off through linked missile defense weapons. After Launch and Early On-Orbit Testing (LEOT), HBTSS will conduct on-orbit testing, utilizing the MDA Integrated Master Test Plan (IMTP), non-IMTP partner flight test events, and Targets of Opportunity to test, characterize and validate the HBTSS performance. Following the successful demonstration of HBTSS capabilities, the responsibility for HBTSS operational fielding will be transferred to the US Space Force and the Missile Defense Agency will continue the development of the next-generation of space-based fire control sensors for missile defense.

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2025
• Source ID: MD42_1206895C_4_0400_PB_2025

Tags

Readers

• Aerospace Engineering.
• Enterprise Information Systems Architecture and Joint Command Capability Interoperability Support.
• Missile Defense Systems.

Technology Areas

• Fully Networked C3
• Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control
• Hypersonics
• Space
• Space - Satellites
• Space - Space Objects