The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory has signed a $54.4 million contract for Raytheon Co. to provide a payload featuring a sensor with a focal plane array large enough to capture images of the entire earth from a geosynchronous missile-warning satellite, Raytheon announced Oct. 16.

The Alternate Infrared Satellite System program calls for Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems to design and build a developmental integrated sensor assembly for the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center. The Air Force is seeking to develop a system of lower cost and risk than the geosynchronous missile-warning satellite in parallel development by another contractor for the third Space Based Infrared System.

The product, expected in 2008, takes advantage of a single full-earth staring instrument to look for infrared plumes and provide early warning of ballistic missile launches.