INDUSTRY INTERVIEW: ITT Space Systems Division
Tommy L. Brazie
Vice President and Director
Space Control & Missile Defense
ITT Space Systems Division
Q: Describe ITT Space Systems’ competencies in military space and missile defense.
A: With over 50 years remote sensing and GPS navigation experience, our space, air and ground-based systems/ subsystems can be counted on to support our nation’s space control, antimissile defense and operationally responsive space programs/initiatives. Key capabilities include GPS navigation, civilian and military weather, commercial and government imaging systems, and visualization tools for military. Notable programs have included navigation payloads on every GPS satellite ever launched. Recently, ITT delivered the GPS IIR-20(M) payload, which featured a “Safety of Life” civilian signal. This satellite was launched in March 2009. ITT is also working on GPS Block III, which will feature increased power to resist jamming, as well as faster clock rates for enhanced accuracy. Other key programs are in the areas of climate and environmental monitoring as well as commercial remote sensing. Specific examples include the Cross-track Infrared Sounder [CrIS] for the NPOESS program, WorldView-1, WorldView-2, GeoEye-1 and GeoEye-2.
Q: From your extensive military portfolio, tell us about one contract or program you are particularly proud of.
A: From the lunar orbiter missions of the 1960s, to the recently deployed and operational WorldView-1 and GeoEye-1 commercial remote satellites, ITT has actively contributed to many notable commercial and government programs and has been proud to support all of them.
Q: Discuss how your division enables spacecraft to survive jamming and other current and projected threats during on-orbit assignments.
A: ITT has a long legacy in military communications and electronic warfare on the ground, in the air and up in space. We leverage that experience in the products we build, such as GPS Block III, that will feature increased power to resist jamming.
Q: Describe how your division uses modeling and simulation to gain efficiencies in your production processes.
A: ITT has the leading image chain analysis in the industry. We model all of our imaging systems from the illuminating source all the way to the user’s monitor before we build anything. We can modify the characteristics of the payload in front of the customer allowing them to choose the exact design before making a hardware commitment. Then we build what the customer wants.
Q: Your forecast, please, on future business opportunities within military space and missile programs based on the Obama administration’s requested FY10 defense budget.
A: While the new administration continues to articulate its priorities, we expect that the emphasis will be on delivering solutions that are quantifiably better, faster and on-budget without sacrificing quality. ITT is well positioned to do this by leveraging proven off-the-shelf solutions, such as our commercial remote sensing packages that can be scaled to fit the demands of commercial and government customers alike. We believe military space and missile programs will remain a priority for the nation. ♦
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