The Lockheed-built US Air Force defence meteorological satellite programme (DMSP) F-18 block 5D-3 spacecraft has been successfully launched into space.

The air force will use the DMSP for strategic and tactical weather prediction to aid in planning operations at sea, on land and in the air.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Go deeper with GlobalData

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

The block 5D-3 series accommodates larger sensor payloads than earlier generations and features a larger capability power subsystem, and a more powerful on-board computer with increased memory and increased battery capacity that extends the mean mission duration.

The DMSP F-18 collects specialised global meteorological, oceanographic and solar-geophysical information in all weather conditions.

The DMSP constellation comprises two spacecraft in near-polar orbits, C3 (command, control and communications), user terminals and weather centres.

DMSP F-18 was launched on a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Airforce Technology Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Airforce Technology Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.


Excellence in Action
Discover how Virtualitics is transforming mission readiness with explainable AI, predictive maintenance, and data-driven decision intelligence across the U.S. Department of Defense through its AI-powered Integrated Readiness Optimization suite, for which it has won the Innovation and Business Expansion awards.

Discover the Impact