Insider Brief
- The U.S. Space Force has extended Northrop Grumman’s contract by $1.8 billion, bringing the total value to over $4.1 billion.
- This phase includes building, launching, and transitioning two polar-orbiting satellites into operation.
- The first satellite launch is scheduled for 2028, with full operational capacity expected by 2031.
The U.S. Space Force announced it has awarded Northrop Grumman an additional $1.8 billion to continue work on the Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (Next-Gen OPIR) program, bringing the total contract value to more than $4.1 billion. This phase includes building, launching, and transitioning two polar-orbiting satellites into operation. These satellites are critical for missile detection, particularly for threats in the Northern Hemisphere, where monitoring is most difficult.
The initial contract, worth $2.2 billion, was awarded by the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center to develop these satellites as part of the broader effort to improve missile defense. The satellites will be equipped with advanced infrared sensors capable of detecting both ballistic and hypersonic missile threats. Key suppliers involved in the project include Powell Electronics and Houston Precision Fasteners, among others.
The satellites will operate in highly elliptical orbits, providing consistent coverage of the Northern Hemisphere. The first satellite launch is scheduled for 2028, with full operational capacity expected by 2031. Northrop Grumman is incorporating advanced resilience features into the system to ensure it can withstand counter-space and cyber threats
Image credit: Northrop Grumman
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