[Satellite TODAY 11-03-10] Raytheon has completed a system design review for the U.S. Space Fence program, which will provide enhanced space surveillance capability to the U.S. Air Force to track and detect space objects, Raytheon announced Nov. 2.
    The review included the prototyping of critical system elements to demonstrate increased technical and manufacturing readiness levels.
    The Space Fence program is a multiphase acquisition process that will lead to the delivery of up to three globally positioned S-band radars capable of interoperation with the Space Surveillance Network. The system aims to ensure that there is no gap in capability as the current systems in the network reach the end of their life spans.
    “We’ve partnered with the Air Force on requirements trade studies and analysis, balancing cost, capability and technical maturity to deliver a system that provides critical space situational awareness capability to the warfighter. I’m extremely proud of our Raytheon team. We’re confident we can support the Air Force’s need for an initial operating capability in 2015 and look forward to the next phase of the program,” Raytheon Space Fence Program Director Scott Spence said in a statement.
    Separately, Raytheon announced it completed a design review of the GPS Advanced Control Segment (OCX) and that the company is ready to proceed with the next development phase of the program.
    During the review, a Raytheon-led team detailed its architecture and software requirements for GPS OCX, which will deliver the advanced control segment designed to provide secure, accurate and reliable navigation and timing information to U.S. military, commercial and civil users.
    Raytheon is the prime contractor for the $886 million program.
    “The successful software specification review sets the foundation for the preliminary design review scheduled for spring 2011 and is an indicator of the maturity of the software and interface requirements and the operational concept for GPS OCX,” Raytheon Vice President and GPS OCX Program Manager Bob Canty said in a statement.