The House Armed Services Committee on June 4, 2026, debated the 2027 National Defense Authorization Act
WASHINGTON — The House Armed Services Committee moved to preserve a Space Force missile-warning satellite program the Pentagon plans to cancel, authorizing $415 million for the Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared Polar program in the markup of the fiscal 2027 defense policy bill.
During a markup session June 4, committee members debated amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act.
Among the space-related provisions approved was to keep alive the Next-Gen OPIR Polar, a Northrop Grumman program that has been under development since 2018. The satellites are designed to operate in highly elliptical orbits and provide missile-warning coverage over the Northern Hemisphere, particularly the polar regions.
The Pentagon’s fiscal 2027 budget proposes terminating the program, arguing that newer missile-warning architectures in low Earth orbit and medium Earth orbit have reduced the need for dedicated polar satellites. The administration’s budget documents show the program’s projected cost at $3.4 billion, including approximately $2.1 billion already spent. The budget includes $436 million in fiscal 2026 largely to complete and close out development activities.
