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Space, Near-Space and Airborne Sensors and Structures

Space systems, satellites, and near space sensors are all used by the national security community and the U.S. military to gather data pertinent to military operations. These systems are an important resource and help provide U.S. forces distinct advantages over potential adversaries. In order to secure these advantages for the U.S. warfighter, the Strategic Technology Office (STO) is conducting research across the spectrum of applications including rapid access, space situational awareness, and persistent tactical grade sensing approaches including extremely large space apertures and structures. Of particular interest are concepts that support affordable access to space and the development of affordable high performance space control sensors and systems.

A substantial threat to U.S. air superiority could arise if our adversaries use inexpensive, unsophisticated, unmanned air vehicles as weapons platforms, or if our adversaries use inexpensive optical and infrared based air defense weapons. STO is pursuing novel systems that seek, find, and then negate these threats early, well before these missiles are launched against U.S aircraft. STO is also interested in developing new and revolutionary space based radar technologies that will enable warfighters to locate, track, and target adversary movements on the ground and in the air. STO also seeks to investigate innovative technology to expand the global communications reach-back capabilities of field-deployed tactical users by leveraging the existing (and underutilized) commercial (C-Band SATCOM) communications network.