Next Generation OPIR

Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) Space Modernization Initiative (SMI) (Project 657009): To better enable response to emerging global missile threats, SMI advances critical capabilities and reduces risk through five major thrust areas: Demonstrations/Prototypes, Technology Maturation, Data Processing & Analytics, Wide Field of View (WFOV) On-Orbit Testbed Mission Integration, and Capability Exploitation, each with a flagship investment. Demonstrations rapidly prototype new game-changing technologies for the broader mission warning enterprise by delivering ground and on-orbit prototypes. Demonstrations also advance OPIR capabilities for missile warning and tracking ensuring a low risk, smooth transition of advanced technology to future operational systems. Technology Maturation focuses investments on high pay-off critical components to reduce production risks and development costs. Technology Maturation also focuses development on advanced Infrared (IR) sensing optics and electronics, resiliency hardware and software, and on-board processing algorithms and on-board computers. Data Processing & Analytics provides return-on-investment aimed at ingestion and fusion of current and future proliferated sensor program data to enhance missile warning, missile defense, battlespace awareness and technical intelligence mission capabilities. This includes the processing and exploitation of legacy Space Based Infrared Systems (SBIRS) wideband data and its fusion with Wide Field of View (WFOV) Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) wideband sensor. Subsequently, this work will expand to include the ingestion and fusion of WFOV Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Next-Gen GEO, Resilient Missile Warning/Missile Tracking (MW/MT) Medium-Earth Orbit (MEO) and other data as it becomes available as well as overcoming the proliferated sensor challenges expected with the large volumes of data and tracks that could overwhelm the enterprise and operators. Data Processing & Analytics will focus on automation and innovation to overcome these challenges to include Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) that reduce cognitive workload reduction of the operators.

The Government works with the Enterprise System Engineering & Integration (SE&I) contractor as a team to define the Next-Gen OPIR enterprise architecture, control and validate interfaces, ensure compatibility of Next-Gen OPIR systems, and develop/manage plans for fielding the Next-Gen OPIR segments. Further, the Enterprise SE&I executes system-level integration requirements between segments such as Space to Ground. This differs from integration within each segment; integration within segments refers to subsystem-level integration between subsystems such as a spacecraft bus to the mission payload. The Government Integrator is responsible for defining the Next-Gen OPIR enterprise architecture, controls and validates interfaces, ensures compatibility of Next-Gen OPIR systems, and develops/manages plans for fielding the Next-Gen OPIR Enterprise. Further, the Integrator executes Model Based System Engineering (MBSE) through 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 technical requirements and interface 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.