# Next-Gen OPIR Space, Block 0 Polar — Program Element 1206444SF

**Program element:** 1206444SF  
**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/1206444SF

## Summary

U.S. Space Force funding falls 100% to a $0.0M request in FY2027. In the FY2027 defense authorization, the Senate added $500.0M (to $500.0M) while House appropriators added $200.0M (to $200.0M).

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 769.5 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 436.5 |
| FY2027 | Request | 0.0 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 0.0 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 0.0 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 0.0 |
| 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 | 0.0 | — |
| Senate NDAA (SASC) | 500.0 | +500.0 |
| House Approps (HAC-D) | 200.0 | +200.0 |

> 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 657121 | Next-Gen OPIR Space, Block 0 Polar | 769.5 | 436.5 | 0.0 | −100% |

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

### Project 657121 — Next-Gen OPIR Space, Block 0 Polar

The program office is developing the Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (Next-Gen OPIR) Polar (Project 657121) 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, and equipment. Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (Nex-Gen OPIR) Space, Block 0 Polar (Project 657121): The primary mission is to provide initial missile warning of a ballistic missile attack on the US, its deployed forces, and its allies. Next-Gen OPIR Space enhances detection and improves reporting of intercontinental ballistic missile launches, submarine launched ballistic missile launches, and tactical ballistic missile launches. Development consists of the Next-Gen OPIR Polar (NGP) missile warning satellites with 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 NGP capability through three contract phases. Phase 0, awarded in June 2018, encompassed system requirements analysis and risk reduction efforts, which led to a March 2020 System Requirements Review (SRR). Phase 1, awarded in May 2020, encompasses engineering design, unit hardware procurement, component and subsystem qualification and design, critical path flight hardware procurement, and risk reduction efforts, and culminated in a System Critical Design Review (CDR) in August 2024. Phase 2 was awarded in October 2024, encompassing manufacture, assembly, integration, test and launch of two satellites. 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 Space, Block 0 Polar | 769.5 | 436.5 | 0.0 |

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

## Mission & acquisition strategy

The program office is developing the Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (Next-Gen OPIR) Polar (Project 657121) 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, and equipment. Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (Nex-Gen OPIR) Space, Block 0 Polar (Project 657121): The primary mission is to provide initial missile warning of a ballistic missile attack on the US, its deployed forces, and its allies.

Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (Next-Gen OPIR) Polar consists of two satellites. The Next-Gen OPIR 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 Polar (NGP) program was re-designated as an Acquisition Category (ACAT)-1B Major Capability Acquisition program in Nov 2023. The first Polar satellite is required in FY 2028. The program office awarded a sole source contract under the authority of a Justification & Authorization document. The NGP Phase 0 was awarded in FY 2018, consisting of requirements development, and culminated in a March 2020 System Requirements Review (SRR).

## Related program elements

- [1206443SF — Next-Gen OPIR Space GEO](https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206443SF) (Space Force)
- [1206440SF — Next-Gen OPIR -- Ground](https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206440SF) (Space Force)
- [0605235A — Strategic Mid-Range Capability](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0605235A) (Army)
- [0604014N — F/A-18 Infrared Search and Track (IRST)](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604014N) (Navy)

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-3, PE 1206444SF (PB PB2027); FY2027 NDAA committee marks (as of 2026-07-27).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="1206444SF")`.

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