Space Force awards Next-Gen OPIR contract
Next-Gen OPIR satellites are intended to provide early warning of missile launches from any location worldwide.
Lockheed Martin is to produce three geosynchronous Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (Next-Gen OPIR) satellites for the US Space Force (USSF) under a $4.93 billion contract modification announced on 4 January.
Work will be performed in Sunnyvale, California, for completion by 31 May 2028.
The original $2.9 billion contract to develop the geosynchronous satellites was awarded to Lockheed Martin in August 2018.
Next-Gen OPIR satellites are intended to provide early warning of a ballistic or tactical missile launch from any location worldwide. They will expand and eventually replace coverage provided by legacy Space Based Infrared System satellites (also made by Lockheed Martin).
In all, the USSF will operate five Next-Gen OPIR satellites: three geosynchronous orbit satellites manufactured by Lockheed Martin and two polar orbit satellites made by Northrop Grumman. The first satellite could be launched in 2025.
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