Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS)

Missile warning satellite constellationIn serviceFielded 2008Pending verification

Also known as: SBIRS High

Fact cardConfidence · Source

System

TypeMissile warning satellite constellation

Alternative designationsSBIRS High

Date of introduction2008

ProliferationOrigin country only

Satellites6Six GEO satellites (2011–2022) plus four hosted HEO payloads (two active, two reserve)Med^[1]

First launch2011Med^[1]

Program statusGEO-6, the last, accepted 24 March 2023; Next-Gen OPIR GEO first launch slipped to FY26Med^[1]

Dimensions and weight

Mass2,506 kg5,525 lb5,525 lb GEO on orbitMed^[1]

Power2,435 WGEOMed^[1]

Mission

MissionStrategic and theater missile warning; twice the revisit rate and three times the sensitivity of DSPMed^[1]

Orbit

Orbit regimeGEO and HEOMed^[1]

Catalogued on orbit6Payloads with current element sets in the public catalog, active or not.High^[2]

Active (CelesTrak)6Count in the CelesTrak active satellites list, which estimates operational status.Med^[2]

Perigee35,776–35,780 kmActive satellites per CelesTrak, element epoch about 2026-11-08.High^[2]

Apogee35,793–35,798 kmActive satellites per CelesTrak, element epoch about 2026-11-08.High^[2]

Orbital period1,436.1 minActive satellites per CelesTrak, element epoch about 2026-11-08.High^[2]

Inclination2.31–4.94 °Active satellites per CelesTrak, element epoch about 2026-11-08.High^[2]

Catalogued satellites · 6^[2]

Name	NORAD	COSPAR	Perigee km	Apogee km	Incl. °	Period min	Status
SBIRS GEO-1 (USA 230)	37481	2011-019A	35,778	35,795	4.85	1436.1	Active
SBIRS GEO-2 (USA 241)	39120	2013-011A	35,776	35,798	4.8	1436.1	Active
SBIRS GEO-4 (USA 273)	41937	2017-004A	35,780	35,793	2.53	1436.1	Active
SBIRS GEO-3 (USA 282)	43162	2018-009A	35,779	35,794	2.31	1436.1	Active
SBIRS GEO-5 (USA 315)	48618	2021-042A	35,778	35,794	4.94	1436.1	Active
SBIRS GEO-6 (USA 336)	53355	2022-092A	35,779	35,794	3.03	1436.1	Active

Mean elements at epoch 2026-11-07 or later. Perigee and apogee are computed from mean motion and eccentricity and are approximate. Status follows the CelesTrak active list.

Summary

Infrared missile warning, missile defense, technical intelligence and battlespace awareness; successor to DSP.

Draft entry. Values come from the cited public sources and are awaiting editor verification.

Compare JSON

Operators

United States

Sources

Space-Based Infrared System (weapons and platforms entry), Air & Space Forces Magazine
Tier 3 · checked 2026-11-08
NORAD GP element sets (current data), CelesTrak (data from the U.S. Space Force 18th/19th Space Defense Squadron catalog)
Published/updated 2026-11-08 · Tier 1 · checked 2026-11-08

Change log

2026-11-08 Entry created from cited open sources
2026-11-08 Orbital elements from CelesTrak GP data (epoch about 2026-11-08): 6 catalogued, 6 active.