Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared

Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (Next-Gen OPIR) is being developed in the United States as the replacement for the current missile warning constellation, the Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS).^[1]

The Next-Gen OPIR satellites are engineered to detect and track ballistic missile launches, delivering early warnings of potential attacks. Equipped with advanced infrared sensors, these satellites identify the heat signatures of incoming missiles and securely transmit this vital data to ground stations.^[2]