Northrop Grumman Corporation and Ball Aerospace have successfully completed the Critical Design Review (CDR) phase of the Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (Next-Gen OPIR) Geosynchronous (GEO) mission payload program.
The completion of the subsystems and payload meets U.S. Space Force and Lockheed Martin program objectives to ensure national security posture stays ahead of emerging global threats.
With the flight design complete, the Northrop Grumman and Ball Aerospace team will manufacture, integrate and test the flight mission payload, which is scheduled for delivery to prime contractor Lockheed Martin in 2023. The Next-Gen OPIR GEO satellites are being designed and built by Lockheed Martin.
“The Northrop Grumman and Ball Aerospace team brings deep mission expertise in missile warning and tracking to this program,” said Scott Lee, vice president and general manager, payload and ground systems, Northrop Grumman.
“Together, we’re delivering another generation of unblinking eyes in space as part of our nation’s strategic deterrence.”
As the successor to the Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS), Next-Gen OPIR will provide an improved, more resilient missile warning system to counter current and emerging threats.
In addition to developing a payload design for the Next-Gen GEO program, Northrop Grumman was selected by the Space Force to design and develop two polar-orbiting Next-Gen OPIR space vehicles.
