The U.S. Space Force has been patting itself on the back for being the Pentagon's speed demon, but a new Government Accountability Office report suggests it's still tripping over the same old acquisition hurdles. The GAO's annual assessment, released July 2, reviewed over 100 major defense programs, including 13 Space Force procurements, and found that while the Space Force is making progress on some satellite efforts, it's wrestling with slow timelines, cost growth, and workforce shortages that threaten national security launches. The report's broader conclusion: despite acquisition reforms and fancy new procurement pathways, the Pentagon still takes too long to field major weapon systems because programs start with immature tech and cling to outdated practices.

Among the biggest trouble spots is the Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (Next Gen OPIR) geosynchronous missile-warning constellation, built by Lockheed Martin. The GAO estimates its acquisition cost at $9.5 billion and notes it has experienced significant cost growth, with a roughly $340 million overrun by the payload subcontractor due to software and engineering headaches. The first satellite was completed in January, but its launch is on hold because it's assigned to United Launch Alliance's Vulcan rocket, which is grounded after an anomaly. Vulcan is expected to return to flight later this year - fingers crossed.

The companion Next Gen OPIR Polar constellation, built by Northrop Grumman, is estimated at $5.9 billion and expected to launch in 2028 - unless budget fights kill it first. The Trump administration's fiscal 2027 budget proposal eliminated funding, but House and Senate appropriators have temporarily revived it.

The Protected Tactical Satcom-Global program, a commercial-ish military communications effort, is also under scrutiny. The Space Force opted to buy two test satellites from SES and Viasat instead of four production models. The GAO estimates the program will cost $2.9 billion for 24 satellites but warns that integrating commercial tech could cause interface problems that increase costs or delay schedules.

Then there's the Next Generation Operational Control System (OCX), a Raytheon-built ground system for GPS that became a poster child for software delays and cost overruns. The GAO revealed that Pentagon leaders decided to cancel OCX in late 2025, months before the public announcement in April 2026. The Air Force acquisition executive recommended modernizing the existing GPS Operational Control Segment instead.

Finally, the Space Force's launch enterprise is facing a double whammy: a sharp increase in launch activity and a shrinking workforce. With Vulcan grounded and Blue Origin's New Glenn failure delaying certification, only SpaceX and ULA are currently certified for national security launches. The NSSL program plans about 50 Phase 2 missions through fiscal 2028 and roughly 85 Phase 3 missions, but staff departures under federal deferred resignation, early retirements, and a hiring freeze are reducing the engineering and oversight workforce. The GAO warns these vacancies may have long-term detrimental effects on the program.