Raytheon Completes Design Review of Sensor Payload of the Block 0 GEO Missile Warning Satellites

Raytheon has completed a Critical Design Review of its competitive sensor payload design for the U.S. Space Force’s Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared or Next-Gen OPIR, Block 0 GEO missile warning satellites.

The Satellites will be built by spacecraft prime contractor Lockheed Martin.

“Protecting the U.S. and our allies from the threat of adversaries’ advanced missile technology begins in space,” said Paul Meyer, vice president of Space & C2 for RI&S in a recent press release. “Our digital engineering approach includes mission-scenario simulations that model our full suite of capabilities to predict how they will work on orbit,” added Meyer.

Planned to provide more resilient missile warning, OPIR Block 0 was implemented by the Department of the Air Force as a “Go Fast” acquisition program. Lockheed Martin Space selected Raytheon Intelligence & Space as one of two teams to design a viable sensor payload for the program. The first geostationary-orbiting satellite is targeted for delivery 60 months from initial design.