Program · United States · U.S. Space Force
Next-Generation OPIR GEO
Lockheed Martin geosynchronous missile-warning satellite for the U.S. Space Force.
Timeline1
- MilestoneConfirmed
First satellite completes environmental testing
Lockheed Martin said on 6 August 2025 that the first satellite had completed environmental testing, including thermal vacuum testing; the completion date is not stated.
Program and variant milestones. Dates show only the precision the sources give.
Cost to the Government
| Measure | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Program totals · 3 | ||
| Annual RDT&E fundingR-1 PE1206443SF Next-Gen OPIR GEO. Annual appropriation, not lifetime development. FY2026 includes listed reconciliation spend-plan funds; FY2027 is requested funding. Not a contract award or recurring hardware price. | $485.703M / yrNominal $; source budget basis | FY2027 R-1: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation Department of Defense Comptroller · Apr 2026 · figure FY2027 total request · PB2027 |
| Historical five-year Next Gen OPIR development planBroader program, including satellites and ground systems; not GEO-only lifetime development or actual expenditure. GAO describes a five-year spending plan. | $14.4BSource-reported $ · historical development plan | Next Gen OPIR cost and schedule oversight, September 2021 Government Accountability Office · figure September 2021 GAO report |
| Next Gen OPIR ground annual RDT&E requestPE1206440SF ground segment, separate from GEO spacecraft development and not added to the GEO unit cost. | $761.425M / yrNominal $; source budget basis | FY2027 R-1: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation Department of Defense Comptroller · Apr 2026 · figure FY2027 |
| Unit costs · 1 | ||
| Comparable unit priceNo comparable standalone unit price was established; package or contract totals are shown separately. | Not established | — |
| Quantities · 3 | ||
| Broader Next Gen OPIR architectureCombined GEO and HEO/Polar satellites in GAO’s architecture table. Not four GEO spacecraft, delivered satellites, or a new order. | 4U.S. only; stated source scope | Missile warning satellites: delivery risks and cost transparency, January 2026 Government Accountability Office · figure January 2026 GAO snapshot |
| U.S. inventoryA current U.S. inventory was not established. Annual procurement, cumulative deliveries and production capacity are not a stockpile count. | Not established | — |
| U.S. procurement quantityNo comparable U.S. procurement quantity was established in this review. | Not established | — |
| Operating costs · 1 | ||
| Annual operations & supportA complete, system-specific annual operating and support cost was not established. Procurement, replacement rounds and contract support are different measures. | Not established | — |
Program totals · 3
- Annual RDT&E fundingR-1 PE1206443SF Next-Gen OPIR GEO. Annual appropriation, not lifetime development. FY2026 includes listed reconciliation spend-plan funds; FY2027 is requested funding. Not a contract award or recurring hardware price.FY2027 R-1: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation Department of Defense Comptroller · Apr 2026 · figure FY2027 total request · PB2027$485.703M / yrNominal $; source budget basis
- Historical five-year Next Gen OPIR development planBroader program, including satellites and ground systems; not GEO-only lifetime development or actual expenditure. GAO describes a five-year spending plan.Next Gen OPIR cost and schedule oversight, September 2021 Government Accountability Office · figure September 2021 GAO report$14.4BSource-reported $ · historical development plan
- Next Gen OPIR ground annual RDT&E requestPE1206440SF ground segment, separate from GEO spacecraft development and not added to the GEO unit cost.FY2027 R-1: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation Department of Defense Comptroller · Apr 2026 · figure FY2027$761.425M / yrNominal $; source budget basis
Unit costs · 1
- Comparable unit priceNo comparable standalone unit price was established; package or contract totals are shown separately.Source not recordedNot established
Quantities · 3
- Broader Next Gen OPIR architectureCombined GEO and HEO/Polar satellites in GAO’s architecture table. Not four GEO spacecraft, delivered satellites, or a new order.Missile warning satellites: delivery risks and cost transparency, January 2026 Government Accountability Office · figure January 2026 GAO snapshot4U.S. only; stated source scope
- U.S. inventoryA current U.S. inventory was not established. Annual procurement, cumulative deliveries and production capacity are not a stockpile count.Source not recordedNot established
- U.S. procurement quantityNo comparable U.S. procurement quantity was established in this review.Source not recordedNot established
Operating costs · 1
- Annual operations & supportA complete, system-specific annual operating and support cost was not established. Procurement, replacement rounds and contract support are different measures.Source not recordedNot established
Earlier observations · 3
Superseded estimates and prices, each in its original scope and dollar basis.
| Measure | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Annual RDT&E funding1 | $458.727M / yrNominal $; source budget basis | FY2027 R-1: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation Department of Defense Comptroller · Apr 2026 · figure FY2025 actual · PB2027 |
| Annual RDT&E funding1 | $422.173M / yrNominal $; source budget basis | FY2027 R-1: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation Department of Defense Comptroller · Apr 2026 · figure FY2026 total enacted / spend plan · PB2027 |
| Annual RDT&E funding1 | $485.703M / yrNominal $; source budget basis | FY2027 R-1: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation Department of Defense Comptroller · Apr 2026 · figure FY2027 total request · PB2027 |
- Annual RDT&E funding1FY2027 R-1: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation Department of Defense Comptroller · Apr 2026 · figure FY2025 actual · PB2027$458.727M / yrNominal $; source budget basis
- Annual RDT&E funding1FY2027 R-1: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation Department of Defense Comptroller · Apr 2026 · figure FY2026 total enacted / spend plan · PB2027$422.173M / yrNominal $; source budget basis
- Annual RDT&E funding1FY2027 R-1: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation Department of Defense Comptroller · Apr 2026 · figure FY2027 total request · PB2027$485.703M / yrNominal $; source budget basis
1R-1 PE1206443SF Next-Gen OPIR GEO. Annual appropriation, not lifetime development. FY2026 includes listed reconciliation spend-plan funds; FY2027 is requested funding. Not a contract award or recurring hardware price.
GEO design-review milestone
Space Systems Command documented the GEO critical design review on August 24, 2021 and identified Lockheed Martin as prime contractor. This milestone is not a procurement award or a current inventory count.
A constellation budget is not a spacecraft price
The GEO, Polar and ground programs have separate funding lines. The 2021 five-year development plan and 2026 four-satellite architecture snapshot have different dates and scopes; neither is divided into a current recurring GEO satellite price.
International buyers · 1
| Country | Qty | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United StatesGEO-specific funding, with broader constellation figures identified separately. | Not verified | Space Force development program | FY2027 R-1: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation Department of Defense Comptroller · Apr 2026 · figure FY2027 request |
Open research: Current U.S. inventory and complete annual operating-and-support costs require additional public evidence. Buyer records are selected examples, not a complete global order book.
What the government budgets and pays for this program, from budget justification books, appropriations, acquisition reports and contract announcements. Each figure states its dollar basis. What contractors were obligated is under Contracts.