The US Space Force has granted operational acceptance for the Survivable Endurable Evolution (S2E2), a next-generation ground system supporting missile threat detection.
S2E2 replaces the 1960s-era Mobile Ground System, originally built to support the Defense Support Program, with a modern, transportable station.
It processes data from the Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) satellite network and the nuclear detonation (NUDET) detection system, enhancing survivability and resilience in contested and degraded environments.
“S2E2 will deliver the first-ever high data rate missile warning messages, enabling faster and more detailed transmission of critical data,” said Capt. Morgan Records, deputy program manager for the Space Systems Command Infrastructure Branch.
“This means national command authorities will receive high-fidelity missile warning and NUDET information with greater speed and accuracy than ever before.”
Enhancing Threat Detection
The recent operational acceptance confirms that S2E2 is officially approved for use and ready to operate alongside the SBIRS system.
S2E2 is designed to operate across all phases of conflict, enhancing the endurance and resilience of the US missile and allied warning system.
It integrates command and control functions and combines satellite-based sensors with ground-based processing for real-time threat alerts.
The system also supports early missile warnings and GPS-based nuclear detonation detection, enabling faster attack assessment and response planning.
SBIRS combines satellites in geosynchronous orbit and sensors in a highly elliptical orbit to provide continuous global coverage.
The US Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center’s Remote Sensing Systems Directorate oversees the program.
Lockheed Martin manages engineering and satellite development, while Northrop Grumman supplies the infrared sensor payloads.
