Affordable IR Sensors for Proliferated LEO Missile Tracking Constellation

The United States Space Force (USSF), through the Space Development Agency (SDA), seeks to develop and mature affordable, high-performance midwave infrared (MWIR) sensor technologies for space-based missile detection, tracking, and defense. This effort aims to deliver a complete sensor prototype that demonstrates performance characteristics—such as sensitivity to missile plumes, radiation tolerance for extended LEO operations, and suitability for small satellite platforms—while achieving significant cost reductions. These reductions should be realized through innovative materials, manufacturing processes, and/or sensor architecture approaches, enabling scalable production and integration into the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) and other next-generation missile warning constellations.