Defense Support Program

The Defense Support Program (DSP) is a United States government satellite-based missile detection and early warning system established in 1970 by the U.S. Air Force. As a military program, it operates a constellation of infrared satellites in geosynchronous orbit to detect heat signatures from ballistic missile launches, nuclear detonations, and other threats. Key activities include real-time global surveillance, data relay to command centers, and support for national defense. Notable achievements encompass successful monitoring of missile tests, conflicts like the Gulf War, and contributions to space situational awareness. DSP data has occasionally intersected with UAP/UFO reports through inadvertent captures of anomalous infrared signatures, though not a primary research focus. The program transitioned to the Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) starting in the 2000s, with DSP satellites now in legacy status but some still operational as of 2026.