Azusa, Calif - September 2, 1998 - In mid August GenCorp Aerojet delivered the last DSP sensor completing a 28-year program of infrared sensor products for the U.S. Air Force. The on-time, on-schedule delivery of Sensor 23 for the necklace of missile-detection satellites known as the Defense Support Program (DSP), will bring Associate Contractor Aerojet the remaining $42 million of its contract with the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center. Associate Contractor TRW will integrate the sensor with the rest of the DSP satellite.Aerojet is continuing its advanced sensor, systems engineering and ground processing expertise on DSP's eventual replacement, Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) High, and is a member of the SBIRS Low team.
The DSP satellite system reliably detects and reports real-time missile launches, space launches and nuclear detonations, serving as a valuable early-warning system for the nation's defenses. Aerojet has been designing and building DSP's 1,200-pound infrared sensors since the program's inception in 1970.
"Throughout the life of this program, Aerojet has continually improved its sensor technology and developed innovative ways to reduce costs and improve production efficiency. In fact, Sensor 23 was delivered at the lowest per-sensor cost of any of the previous 22," said Ron Simpson, Aerojet DSP program manager.
The company will now focus its DSP work on a post-production support contract, worth $264.7 million through 2001, as well as a sensor retrofitting contract that expires in 1999.
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