Next Generation OPIR

Next Generation OPIR is a research and development initiative under the Air Force's Research, Development, Test & Evaluation budget activity. The program aims to succeed the current Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) and provide improved missile warning, missile defense, battlespace awareness, and technical intelligence collection capabilities that are more survivable against emerging adversary threats. It involves delivering satellites in diverse orbits to meet mission coverage needs, developing a modular, extensible, and cyber-hardened ground system to operate and process mission data downlinked from on-orbit assets, demonstrating novel infrared technologies, and managing integration activities at the enterprise level. The program is comprised of two projects: Next-Gen OPIR Space Modernization Initiative (SMI) and Integration.

The SMI project within PE 1206442SF focuses on advancing capabilities and reducing risk through demonstrations/prototypes, technology maturation, and data exploitation. It aims to mature technologies by delivering ground and on-orbit prototypes to advance OPIR capabilities for missile warning and tracking. Additionally, it focuses on technology maturation in areas such as advanced infrared sensing optics and electronics, resiliency hardware and software, and on-board processing algorithms. Data exploitation within this project aims to enhance missile warning, missile defense, battlespace awareness, and technical intelligence mission capabilities through the processing and exploitation of sensor data. The project also supports other mission areas such as civil support for wildland fire tracking solutions. Overall, the SMI project supports Next-Gen OPIR by maturing new technologies to enable detection of new and challenging missile threats while reducing production and future system costs through engineering activities.

The Integration project within PE 1206442SF is focused on the critical lead system integration function between the OPIR enterprise segments. This includes enterprise systems engineering and integration activities as well as digital engineering activities such as Model Based System Engineering (MBSE). The project ensures compatibility of Next-Gen systems, develops/manages plans for execution and fielding of the Next-Gen OPIR Enterprise, and executes unique MBSE and integration requirements of each segment by providing modeling, simulation, and technical analyses. The Integration project plays a crucial role in ensuring the integrity of the enterprise technical baseline for Next-Gen OPIR.