# Next-Gen OPIR Space GEO — Program Element 1206443SF

**Program element:** 1206443SF  
**Component:** U.S. Space Force  
**Appropriation:** 3620F — RDT&E, Space Force  
**Budget Activity:** 5 — System Development & Demonstration  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206443SF

## Summary

U.S. Space Force funding ramps 15% to a $485.7M request in FY2027 — the program's peak, with nothing planned by FY2031. In the FY2027 defense authorization, the House funded it in full; the Senate funded it in full; House appropriators funded it in full.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 458.7 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 422.2 |
| FY2027 | Request | 485.7 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 366.6 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 123.1 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 95.2 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 0.0 |

> Estimate types are not summed — the profile mixes actuals, enacted law, the request, and outyear projections.

## Congressional marks (FY2027)

| Stage | Marked ($M) | Change ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| Request | 485.7 | — |
| House NDAA (HASC) | 485.7 | +0.0 |
| Senate NDAA (SASC) | 485.7 | +0.0 |
| House Approps (HAC-D) | 485.7 | +0.0 |

> FY2027 NDAA authorization marks, as of 2026-07-27. Not appropriations or final law.

## Projects (1)

| Project | Title | FY2025 actual | FY2026 enacted | FY2027 request | Move |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 657120 | Next-Gen OPIR Space GEO | 458.7 | 422.2 | 485.7 | +15% |

> Projects are the summable leaves: the program element total is their sum, never added to it.

### Project 657120 — Next-Gen OPIR Space GEO

The program office is developing the Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (Next-Gen OPIR) Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) (Project 657120) for Guardians across Missile Warning and Missile Tracking (MW/MT) mission area. As a result, the Service will deter, neutralize, defeat and/or destroy counterspace threats and defend the homeland while providing resilient infrastructure, equipment and personnel. Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (Next-Gen OPIR) Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) (Project 657120): The primary mission is to provide initial missile warning of a strategic missile attack on the US, deployed forces and allies. The Next-Gen OPIR GEO (NGG) missile warning satellites enhance detection and improve reporting of intercontinental ballistic missile launches, submarine ballistic missile launches, and tactical ballistic missile launches. Development consists of new payloads in a highly resilient bus, providing real-time persistent global infrared coverage to meet validated Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC) requirements on current and future space domain demands. The Program Office is acquiring the NGG capability in two contract actions. Phase 1 awarded in August 2018 encompasses requirements analysis, design/development, critical path flight hardware procurement, and risk reduction efforts leading to a System Critical Design Review (CDR) in October 2021. Phase 2 was awarded in January 2021 for the manufacturing, assembly, system integration and test, launch, and early on-orbit test through operational acceptance of NGG satellites 1-3. The Department has assessed the third Space Vehicle (SV) is not required as a result of continued positive performance of the Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) constellation and the anticipated full operational capability of the Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), Program Element 1206447SF/ Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Program Element 1206446SF missile tracking constellation. As a result, the program has removed the third satellite development efforts. NGG is now a 2 SV baseline. The NGG program has been designated as a Major Capability Acquisition. This program falls within the Missile Warning and Missile Tracking (MW/MT) mission area which provides the multi-orbit space and ground architecture required to detect and track missiles and hypersonic glide vehicles worldwide.

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Next-Gen OPIR GEO | 458.7 | 422.2 | 485.7 |

> R-2A activities carry the prior, current and budget year only — no five-year plan. Coverage is partial, so count them, never total them.

## Where the FY2027 request goes

| Category | Share | $M |
|---|---|---|
| Government labs & warfare centers | 3.3% | 15.8 |
| Other / unspecified | 97% | 469.9 |

> R-3 exhibit contract funding, not USAspending obligations.

## Mission & acquisition strategy

The program office is developing the Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (Next-Gen OPIR) Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) (Project 657120) for Guardians across Missile Warning and Missile Tracking (MW/MT) mission area. As a result, the Service will deter, neutralize, defeat and/or destroy counterspace threats and defend the homeland while providing resilient infrastructure, equipment and personnel. Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (Next-Gen OPIR) Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) (Project 657120): The primary mission is to provide initial missile warning of a strategic missile attack on the US, deployed forces and allies.

The Space Force intends to rapidly acquire Next-Generation systems in order to out-pace adversary missile and counterspace threats while maintaining survivable, global missile warning capability sufficient to enable a transition to the future Force Design architecture. Next-Gen Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) consists of two Next-Gen OPIR GEO satellites. The Next-Gen OPIR GEO Space program was designated a Middle Tier Acquisition (MTA) Rapid Prototype effort under Section 804 of the 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The Next-Gen OPIR GEO program was re-designated as an Acquisition Category (ACAT)-1B Major Capability Acquisition program in July 2023.

## Related program elements

- [1206444SF — Next-Gen OPIR Space, Block 0 Polar](https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206444SF) (Space Force)
- [1206442SF — Next Generation OPIR](https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206442SF) (Space Force)
- [0604035A — Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellite Capability](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604035A) (Army)
- [0208087F — AF Offensive Cyber Operations](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0208087F) (Air Force)

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-3, PE 1206443SF (PB PB2027); FY2027 NDAA committee marks (as of 2026-07-27).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="1206443SF")`.

*HitchAI is an independent intelligence service, not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Defense. Budget figures are requests/estimates, not obligations.*