The fifth and sixth infrared surveillance and missile warning SBIRS satellites are to receive updated technology at no extra cost to the service.

Lockheed Martin, maker of the Space Based Infrared System Geosynchronous Earth Orbit satellites, said the new satellites will be based on its modernized A2100 communications satellite spacecraft to improve affordability, resiliency and flexibility for use of future payloads.

The internally funded updates to the A2100, the foundation for more than 40 satellites in orbit today, includes enhanced the spacecraft power, propulsion and electronics.

"Through the leadership of the Air Force's Space and Missile Systems Center, we have been working to address the Department of Defense's Better Buying Power and Bending the Cost Curve initiatives to deliver more value per dollar on this vital national security system," said David Sheridan, Lockheed Martin vice president and SBIRS program manager. "SBIRS has been providing outstanding global coverage for the Air Force, and migration to the modernized A2100 will help keep SBIRS ahead of America's adversaries while dramatically reducing costs and cycle times."