The new generation series of National Reconnaissance Office naval electronic intelligence satellites was launched by Lockheed Martin Atlas IIAS from Vandenberg AFB, rather than by Titan 4. The Centaur upper stage would deploy what was catalogued as a main satellite and then a companion in a final circular operational orbit at 1100 km, 63 deg inclination. This was in comparison to a triangle of three satellites in earlier generation NOSS satellites, so the design was much lighter and probably quite different.

Typical orbit: 1100 km circular orbit, 63.4 deg inclination.

• 2001 September 8 - USA 160 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC3E. Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Mass: 5,000 kg (11,000 lb).
  Launch delayed from July 31. First of a new series of naval electronic intelligence satellites for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). The Lockheed Martin Atlas IIAS AC-160 put the vehicle in a transfer orbit. The phrasing of the launch commentary implied that the second burn left the payload in 'transfer orbit', but several observers saw the bright Centaur in the typical final deployment orbit of the earlier NOSS satellites. Therefore it seemed the first burn was to a transfer orbit of around 180 x 1100 km x 63 deg. The second burn at 1629 GMT put the Centaur and payload into an 1100 x 1100 km x 63 deg orbit. The design was apparently quite different from earlier generation NOSS satellites since only one companion satellite was deployed rather than two. Prime contractor for the new satellites was again believed to be Lockheed Martin Astronautics at Denver. The NRL probably continued to have a management and technical role in the program under overall NRO auspices.

• 2001 September 8 - USA 160 companion - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC3E. Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Mass: 5,000 kg (11,000 lb).
  

• 2003 December 2 - USA 173 - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC3E. Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Perigee: 1,010 km (620 mi). Apogee: 1,210 km (750 mi). Inclination: 63.40 deg.
  Second launch of new generation paired satellites used for tracking, characterisation, and intelligence on naval vessels and civilian shipping worldwide.

• 2003 December 2 - USA 173 companion - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC3E. Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Perigee: 1,010 km (620 mi). Apogee: 1,210 km (750 mi). Inclination: 63.40 deg.
  

• 2005 February 3 - USA 181 companion - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC36B. Launch Vehicle: Atlas V. Perigee: 1,011 km (628 mi). Apogee: 1,209 km (751 mi). Inclination: 63.40 deg.
  

• 2005 February 3 - USA 181 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC36B. Launch Vehicle: Atlas V. Perigee: 1,011 km (628 mi). Apogee: 1,209 km (751 mi). Inclination: 63.40 deg.
  Last launch of an Atlas model using the original, innovative, balloon propellant tanks conceived in 1947. Third launch of new generation paired satellites used for tracking, characterisation, and intelligence on naval vessels and civilian shipping worldwide.

• 2007 June 15 - USA 194 - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC41. Launch Vehicle: Atlas V. Perigee: 776 km (482 mi). Apogee: 1,246 km (774 mi). Inclination: 63.00 deg.
  Classified National Reconnaissance Office mission. There appeared to be problem in the second burn of the Centaur upper stage. Amateur observors believed that two satellites were to be have been deployed in 1150 km altitude, 63 deg inclination, but that only a 776 km x 1246 km was achieved. However it was believed that the payloads could reach the final intended orbits using on-board propulsion