GAO identifies procurement and readiness concerns in US defense systems.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has raised concerns about the Space Force's satellite programs, particularly the Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (Next-Gen OPIR) geostationary missile-warning spacecraft, which must overcome numerous challenges before its first planned launch in 2025. The estimated cost to date of developing the geostationary satellites has exceeded $6 billion. GAO also analyzed the Space Development Agency's planned architecture of satellites in low Earth orbit and found that the novel approach adopted by the agency to build the constellation comes with risks.