Warfighter-1 - Phillips Laboratory

The Space Experiments Directorate of Phillips Laboratory 
announced award of the Integrated Space Technology 
Demonstration (ISTD) Warfighter-1 contract for approximately 
$32.5 million to Orbital Sciences Corporation (OSC) Germantown, 
MD on 5 Aug 97.

The Warfighter-1 program is an advanced technology demonstration 
program that will provide hyperspectral imagery and related technology 
and services as a part of OSC’s ORBView-3 high-resolution imaging 
satellite.  The satellite’s high-performance electro-optical digital camera 
will be modified to add hyperspectral imaging capabilities.  The program 
will also include the evaluation and validation of hyperspectral technologies, 
development of a mobile ground station, related image processing algorithms 
and software for assessment of tactical utility for military applications.

Hyperspectral imagery is an emerging technology that utilizes a large 
number of frequency bands enabling the detection and identification of 
ground targets and conditions that would not be seen by other satellite 
sensor systems.  In addition, this first-of-a-kind Air Force program is 
also an experiment in leveraging commercial space systems to provide 
demonstration of advanced satellite technologies.  Lessons learned from 
this program, which combines commercial and military market needs, 
could provide the Air Force with a potentially lower-cost alternative 
for future R&D and operational military space systems.

For additional information please contact either Janice S. Olson, 
Contracting Officer PL/PKS, by phone at 505-846-7601 or e-mail 
at olsonj@plk.af.mil or Lt Col Gary Seigel, Program Director 
PL/SXDI, by phone at 505-846-4