Global defence technology firm Lockheed Martin has progressed to system-level testing of its missile-tracking satellite at its manufacturing facility in California.

The Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (Next-Gen OPIR) programme was initiated in 2018 by the US Space Force to enhance missile threat detection from space.

With an estimated cost of $14bn, the planned multi-orbit, multi-layer missile-warning and tracking architecture aims to protect the US and its allies against ballistic missiles, hypersonic vehicles and other emerging threats.

The Next-Gen OPIR programme consists of two types of satellites: geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO) spacecraft built by Lockheed Martin and polar-orbiting satellites developed by Northrop Grumman.

While the first of Northrop Grumman’s satellites is slated for launch in 2028, Lockheed Martin has announced that the GEO satellite is on track to launch next year. The GEO satellite will operate at approximately 22,000 miles above Earth’s surface...