Next Generation OPIR

Abstract

The Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) program succeeds the current Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) and will provide improved missile warning, missile defense, battlespace awareness, and technical intelligence collection capabilities that are more survivable against emerging adversary threats. The program will deliver satellites in a diverse set of orbits to meet mission coverage needs; a modular, extensible, and cyber-hardened ground system to operate and process mission data downlinked from on-orbit assets; an on-ramp to demonstrate novel infrared technologies; and an integration effort will identify, plan, manage and execute integration activities at the enterprise level. Due to funding transfers to segregate Next-Gen OPIR into other Program Elements, PE 1206442SF is now comprised of two projects: 1. Next-Gen OPIR Space Modernization Initiative (SMI) and 2. Integration. 1. SMI (Project 657009/Program Element 1206442SF): To better enable response to emerging global missile threats, SMI advances capabilities and reduces risk through three major thrust areas: Demonstrations/Prototypes, Technology Maturation, and Data Exploitation. Demonstrations mature technologies by delivering ground and on-orbit prototypes. They advance OPIR capabilities for missile warning and tracking, ensuring a low risk, smooth transition of advanced technology to future operational systems. Each year, Space System Command (SSC) conducts a review of all technical development needs for future OPIR systems across the stakeholder community to include the Missile Defense Agency, Space Development Agency, Air Force Research Lab, and mission partners to prioritize technical investment and develop transition roadmaps. The investments described align to the OPIR technology needs published in the Portfolio Decision Support Tool (PDST). Technology Maturation focuses development on advanced infrared sensing optics and electronics, resiliency hardware and software, and on-board processing algorithms and on-board computers. Data Exploitation provides return-on-investment aimed at ingest and fusion of current and future multiple sensor program data to enhance missile warning, missile defense, battlespace awareness and technical intelligence mission capabilities. This includes the processing and exploitation of the Wide Field of View (WFOV) Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) wideband sensor data focused on dimmer threat targets, as well as future program data including Next-Gen GEO, Missile Track Custody (MTC), Medium-Earth Orbit (MEO), Resilient Missile Warning/Missile Tracking (MW/MT), and others. Data Exploitation includes maintaining the Tool, Applications, and Processing (TAP) Lab facility where enhanced software applications and algorithms for detection, tracking and visualization are developed and delivered in support of the Space Operations Command, Delta 4, 11th Space Warning Center and Air Combat Command (ACC)/26th Intelligence Squadron operators within the OPIR Battlespace Awareness Center (OBAC) at Buckley Space Force Base (SFB). The TAP Lab facility is also host to current SBIRS program Contract Logistics Support (CLS) activities, Future Operationally Resilient Ground Evolution (FORGE) mission data processing development and testing, and is expected to host Next-Generation Interim Control Center (NICC)-Next-Gen Interim Operations (NIO) Command and Control (C2) for GEO and potentially MTC Mission Data Processing (MDP) and C2. Data Exploitation also supports other mission areas to include Civil Support such as wildland fire tracking solutions. SMI supports Next-Gen OPIR by maturing new technologies to enable detection of new and challenging missile threats. SMI funds engineering activities to reduce both production and future system costs through manufacturing and producibility enhancements, and technology insertion. SMI includes risk reduction for Program of Record (PoR) to deliver capabilities on threat-relevant timelines to include FORGE, Next-Gen GEO and Polar, and Resilient MW/MT MEO. 2. Integration (Project 657123/Program Element 1206442SF): The Next-Gen OPIR Integration project includes efforts associated with the Government's primary role in, and tasks necessary to accomplish, the critical lead system integration function between the OPIR enterprise segments (Next-Gen GEO, Next-Gen Polar, Next-Gen Ground, and the Resilient MW/MT MEO/Low Earth Orbit (LEO) architecture). This includes Enterprise Systems Engineering and Integration (SE&I) activities, Modeling and Simulation activities, and Digital Engineering activities, to include Model Based System Engineering (MBSE). The focus of the Integration project is on system-level integration activities, between the Next-Gen OPIR segments, such as Space to Ground. This differs from integration within the individual program segments, which refers to subsystem-level integration between subsystems such as a spacecraft bus to the mission payload. The Government Integrator directs the Next-Gen OPIR current enterprise architecture and system definition, controls and validates interfaces, ensures compatibility of Next-Gen systems, and develops/manages plans for execution and fielding of the Next-Gen OPIR Enterprise. Further, the Integrator, through various Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), government partners, and contractors, executes unique MBSE and integration requirements of each segment by providing modeling, simulation, and technical analyses of Government-directed enterprise level trades among the Next-Gen OPIR segments. These trades lead to definition, management, maintenance, and evolution of the Next-Gen OPIR Enterprise requirements and interface technical documents to ensure the integrity of the enterprise technical baseline. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver Next-Gen OPIR weapon system capabilities. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program elements 1206392SF and 1206389SF. This program is in Budget Activity 5, System Development and Demonstration (SDD) because the majority of Projects under PE 1206442SF have been declared Section 804 Rapid Prototype efforts conducting engineering and manufacturing development tasks aimed at meeting validated requirements prior to full rate production.

Document Details

• Document Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2025
• Source ID: 1206442SF_5_3620F_PB_2025
• Change Summary Explanation: FY 2023: $25.000M: ATR for Tactical Surveillance Reconnaissance & Tracking Commercial Pilot FY 2025: -$24.957M; Higher Priority USSF Investments
• Service Agency Name: Air Force

Entities

Organizations

• United States Air Force

Tags

Readers

• Aerospace Engineering.

Technology Areas

• Cyber
• Fully Networked C3
• Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control
• Microelectronics
• Space
• Space - Satellites