Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems were recently awarded sole-source contracts for the U.S. Navy’s Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) program, shaving four years from the procurement process and supporting a 2023 launch date.
Next-Gen OPIR aims to improve the nation’s missile warning capabilities and to make them more resilient in the face of emerging threats. Next-Gen OPIR will replace the current Space Based Infrared System.
“As we develop these new systems, speed matters,” Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson said. “The next generation missile warning satellite will be a pace-setter.”
Lockheed Martin will define system requirements, lead initial design, and procure flight hardware required for a satellite to operate in geosynchronous orbit under the first contract. Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, meanwhile, will define polar requirements for Next-Gen OPIR under the second contract.
“The next generation missile warning will be an important pace-setter for learning to speed up traditional acquisitions,” Will Roper, the assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, technology, and logistics, said. “This is more than just building a prototype or a low-cost system. This is an important system for the nation, and to ‘go for the gold’ by targeting five years instead of nine years allows us to pick up the pace to defend the nation.”