More GPS III satellite funding won by Lockheed Martin
NewsDecember 16, 2013
DENVER. Lockheed Martin won more than $200 million in contract options from the U.S. Air Force to finish production of the fifth and sixth next-generation Global Positioning System satellites, called GPS III.
Earlier this year the Air Force officials awarded Lockheed Martin with a fixed price $120 million contract to procure long lead parts for the second set of four GPS III space vehicles (SV 05-08). This new funding covers completion of the first two satellites (SV 05-06) in this order. Full production funding is expected for the next two space vehicles (SV 07-08) in 2014. Lockheed Martin is slated to produce and deliver four GPS III space vehicles (SV 01-04).
GPS III replaces aging GPS satellites in orbit, while enhancing capability. The satellites will provide three times better accuracy; as much as eight times improved anti-jamming capabilities; and also include enhancements that extend the spacecraft life 25 percent further than the previous GPS block. GPS II also will be the first with a new L1C civil signal that provides interoperability with other international global navigation satellite systems.
The Global Positioning Systems Directorate at the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center leads the GPS III team. Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor. Other teammates include: Exelis, General Dynamics, Infinity Systems Engineering, Honeywell, ATK and other subcontractors. Air Force Space Command’s 2nd Space Operations Squadron (2SOPS), located at Schriever Air Force Base, CO., manages and operates the GPS constellation for civil and military users.
