The Northrop Grumman Corporation and Raytheon Company built Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS) Demonstration program satellites participated in a test of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency's (MDA's) Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system on June 28 in the most thorough indication yet of the space-based sensor's capabilities.

The STSS Demonstration satellites detected the launch of a threat-representative missile and relayed trajectory data to Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) ground stations. The STSS satellites acquired and tracked the missile as anticipated.

This was the third time that STSS successfully observed a missile launch and passed data to the system's ground station. On June 6, STSS successfully detected and tracked a two-stage MDA Ground-Based Interceptor from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. On June 16, STSS detected and tracked the 200th scheduled test launch of an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), also from Vandenberg AFB.

"The consistent performance of the STSS Demonstration satellites during the past three tests generates increased confidence in the system as well as the effectiveness of the future space sensor layer required for successful ballistic missile defense," said Gabe Watson, vice president of missile defense and missile warning programs for Northrop Grumman's Aerospace Systems sector.

The Missile Defense Agency is pursuing the STSS Demonstration program as a space-based sensor component of the Ballistic Missile Defense System. The STSS satellites will provide missile defense sensor risk reduction concepts to support development and fielding of a future missile defense operational satellite constellation.