Lockheed Martin is the SBIRS prime contractor, with Northrop Grumman as the payload integrator.

ENGADGET: First piece of SBIRS missile defense system launched, not shot down

Lockheed Martin's original SBIRS contract includes HEO payloads, two geosynchronous orbit (GEO) satellites, as well as ground-based assets to receive and process the infrared data.

ENGADGET: First piece of SBIRS missile defense system launched, not shot down

As a result, we are confident SBIRS GEO-1 will deliver unprecedented, global, persistent, taskable infrared surveillance capabilities to the warfighter, nation and our allies for years to come.

ENGADGET: First piece of SBIRS missile defense system launched, not shot down

"The launch of SBIRS GEO-1 heralds a new era for missile warning and other missions enabled by overhead persistent infrared sensors, " said Steve Toner, Northrop Grumman's vice president of OPIR and Azusa Programs.

ENGADGET: First piece of SBIRS missile defense system launched, not shot down

Air Force Space Command operates the SBIRS system.

ENGADGET: First piece of SBIRS missile defense system launched, not shot down