Overview
- Northrop Grumman says it has accepted delivery of a missile-warning infrared sensor built for the Next-Gen OPIR Polar satellite.
- The Space Force’s fiscal 2027 budget proposes terminating the Polar effort and zeroes future funding, citing expected polar coverage from new Low and Medium Earth Orbit constellations.
- Budget documents put Polar OPIR’s total cost at $3.4 billion, note about $2.1 billion already spent, and assign $436 million in 2026 to close out development work.
- Congress barred the Pentagon in the 2026 appropriations law from using funds to pause, cancel, or terminate the polar or geosynchronous parts of Next-Gen OPIR, which signals a likely fight over whether the program continues.
- The push reflects a shift from a few large, bespoke satellites to many smaller spacecraft in lower orbits that commanders say are faster to refresh and harder to disable, a change that could strain jobs and suppliers tied to the Polar program.