USAF Says SBIRS Has Intelligence Gathering Capability

By DAVE MAJUMDAR Published: 13 Apr 2011 20:17

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The U.S. Air Force's troubled Space Based Infrared Systems (SBIRS) satellite is the first such spacecraft that is certified to be used as an intelligence gathering system, a service official told reporters April 12.

SBIRS is designed primarily as a missile warning and missile defense satellite, but its sensors are sensitive enough to be used for the intelligence gathering mission.

"We're seeing things we never expected to see before," said Brig. Gen. Roger Teague, who heads the Air Force Infrared Space Systems Directorate, during a news conference at the 27th National Space Symposium.

The Air Force hopes to launch the much delayed satellite May 6.

"We're very pleased that the SBIRS is the first national security space system to be certified for technical intelligence operations," Teague said.

The system is certified by the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency for technical intelligence work.

Teague said the system also can be used to provide battlefield situational awareness information to ground forces in real time.

The move was made to use the satellite in such a capacity after it became apparent the sensor systems had far greater utility than envisioned. What makes the satellite particularly useful is it ability to "stare" at a wide geographic area for extended periods from its geosynchronous orbit, Teague said.

Additionally, the satellite can see much "dimmer" targets than previous missile warning satellites.

"One of the important assessments and projects associated with that, as an example, was a military utility assessment," Teague said.

While most of the missions are classified, one unclassified example is that the satellite can be used to spot forest fires, which was never envisioned for the program.

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