Exigent International Inc. [XGNT] has been awarded a contract for software engineering services from Lockheed Martin Management Data Systems [LMT] in support of the U.S. Air Force’s Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) High Program.

“Our engineers have obtained the experience and lessons learned from other highly-demanding, large-constellation programs that are very applicable to new architectures, such as SBIRS,” said Larry Whitfield, president of Exigent subsidiary Software Technology Inc. “We will utilize our existing engineering office in Boulder, Colo., to supplement our Colorado Springs office.”

The SBIRS high component of the U.S. Air Force’s program geared toward addressing warfighter needs in missile warning, defense and battle space characterization is the major driver of the overall project. It will feature a mix of geosynchronous Earth orbit satellites, highly elliptical Earth orbit satellites and a new consolidated ground processing station which will incrementally replace the existing DSP infrastructure through 2003.