A constellation of U.S. global positioning satellites, orbiting about 12,550 miles above Earth, is equipped with a system designed to detect nuclear detonations anywhere on the planet. The Global Burst Detection system was developed through collaboration between Sandia National Laboratories and Los Alamos National Laboratory.
The most recent and final unit in the current block of eight detection systems was launched into space in May 2025. Additional units for the next series are already completed and scheduled for deployment beginning in 2027.
This detection mission has continued at Sandia for more than 60 years. Teams of engineers, scientists, and technologists develop technologies that must function reliably in space while adapting to changing threats.
“The launch of the final IIIA series Global Burst Detector marks an important milestone in our efforts to enhance nuclear detection capabilities,” said Andrew Stuart, manager at Sandia National Laboratories. “The collaboration between Sandia National Laboratories and Los Alamos National Laboratory has been key to developing this advanced system, which will significantly contribute to our national security by improving our ability to detect nuclear detonations from space.”
Marc Kippen, program manager for Space Systems and Science at Los Alamos, stated: “The May launch is a testament to the decades of effort that it takes to maintain uninterrupted national security space capability. Los Alamos National Laboratory is proud to contribute to this important and enduring mission.”
The Global Burst Detection system operates as part of the U.S. Nuclear Detonation Detection System’s space-based segment. This network includes satellites, sensors, and ground stations capable of detecting electromagnetic pulse energy in specific bands as well as X-ray and optical signals from nuclear events. Data from these systems help the U.S. Air Force determine the location, time, and yield of nuclear detonations.
Funded by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), each sensor undergoes comprehensive testing—including shock, thermal vacuum, vibration, and prompt X-ray exposure—to ensure performance over missions lasting more than 15 years. Sandia leads qualification tests and integrates five subsystems into each complete detector unit.
The last detector in the IIIA series launched from Cape Canaveral on May 30. Following launch, teams from Sandia, Los Alamos, and the U.S. Space Force calibrated the device and conducted early on-orbit tests before handing off configuration details for integration into the broader satellite network.
In 2024, Sandia and Los Alamos delivered two flight systems for the upcoming IIIF generation detectors to Lockheed Martin for installation on GPS satellites; initial launches are planned for 2027. The IIIF design process took 12 years of joint work between both laboratories.
A major component of the new IIIF detectors—the Spectral Imaging Geolocation Hyper-Temporal Sensor (SIGHTS)—originated in Sandia’s Laboratory Directed Research and Development program over a decade ago. Early research focused on advancing remote sensing technology led to development of a megapixel-density optical sensor capable of capturing tens of thousands of frames per second; this improvement allows better discrimination between real events and false positives.
