How Next-Gen OPIR Will Secure the U.S. Space Domain

Space is no longer a peaceful and benign domain. It is now a contested and congested environment, where adversaries are developing and deploying capabilities to threaten the U.S. and its allies. Among the most serious threats are missiles that can strike anywhere on Earth, from ballistic to hypersonic, from conventional to nuclear. To counter these threats, the U.S. needs a robust and resilient space-based missile warning system that can provide timely and accurate information to the decision-makers and the warfighters.

That is why the U.S. Space Force is pursuing one of its most important and urgent programs: the Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (Next-Gen OPIR) system. This system will consist of a constellation of satellites in geosynchronous and polar orbits, that will replace and improve the current Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS). The Next-Gen OPIR system will provide the U.S. with a strategic advantage in space, by delivering enhanced capabilities, such as:

• Reliability: The Next-Gen OPIR satellites will have a longer lifespan and higher availability than the SBIRS satellites, which are reaching the end of their operational life. The Next-Gen OPIR satellites will also have more robust protection against natural and man-made hazards, such as radiation, debris, and hostile attacks.
• Survivability: The Next-Gen OPIR satellites will have more resilient and redundant features, such as maneuverability, encryption, and anti-jamming, to withstand the adversary’s attempts to disrupt, degrade, or destroy them. The Next-Gen OPIR satellites will also have more diverse and distributed architectures, such as disaggregation, proliferation, and hosting, to increase the survivability and diversity of the constellation.
• Responsiveness: The Next-Gen OPIR satellites will have faster and more agile sensors, processors, and communications, to enable quicker and more accurate detection and reporting of missile launches and trajectories. The Next-Gen OPIR satellites will also have more flexible and adaptable payloads, such as reprogrammability, reconfigurability, and modularity, to enable rapid and dynamic changes in the mission and the threat environment.
• Enhancement: The Next-Gen OPIR satellites will have more advanced and powerful capabilities, such as higher resolution, wider coverage, and deeper penetration, to enable better identification and characterization of missile threats. The Next-Gen OPIR satellites will also have more diverse and integrated functions, such as missile defense, battlespace awareness, and technical intelligence, to enable more comprehensive and effective support to the warfighters.

The Next-Gen OPIR system is not only a replacement, but also a transformation of the U.S. space-based missile warning capability. It is a key component of the U.S. space modernization and innovation efforts, that aim to ensure the U.S. space superiority and deterrence in the face of the evolving and emerging challenges. The Next-Gen OPIR system will leverage the state-of-the-art technologies and best practices in the space industry, such as:

• Digital Engineering: The Next-Gen OPIR system will use digital tools and methods, such as modeling, simulation, and analysis, to enable faster and cheaper design, development, and testing of the satellites. The Next-Gen OPIR system will also use digital twins and threads, to enable seamless and secure data sharing and collaboration among the stakeholders and the users.
• Open Architecture: The Next-Gen OPIR system will use open standards and interfaces, such as common data formats, protocols, and APIs, to enable easier and cheaper integration and interoperability of the satellites. The Next-Gen OPIR system will also use open source and commercial software, to enable more innovation and competition in the satellite development and operation.
• Rapid Prototyping: The Next-Gen OPIR system will use agile and iterative processes, such as spiral development, incremental delivery, and DevSecOps, to enable faster and cheaper deployment and delivery of the satellites. The Next-Gen OPIR system will also use reusable and scalable components, such as modular buses, plug-and-play payloads, and hosted payloads, to enable more flexibility and adaptability in the satellite configuration and capability.

The Next-Gen OPIR system is not a simple or easy program. It is a complex and challenging program, that requires a high level of technical expertise, management oversight, and stakeholder coordination. The Next-Gen OPIR system also faces significant risks and uncertainties, such as cost escalation, schedule delay, and performance shortfall, due to the ambitious and accelerated acquisition strategy adopted by the Space Force. The Next-Gen OPIR system has been under intense scrutiny and criticism from Congress and the Government Accountability Office (GAO), who have raised questions and concerns about the need, affordability, and feasibility of the program.

However, the Next-Gen OPIR system is also a necessary and worthwhile program, that deserves the full support and funding from Congress and the public. The Next-Gen OPIR system is a vital and strategic investment for the U.S. space security, that will ensure the continuity and improvement of the U.S. missile warning capability, which is essential for the national defense and deterrence.