Defense giant Lockheed Martin announced on Thursday that it has received an additional $114 million from the U.S. Space Force to modernize the GPS ground segment.
Lockheed Martin’s press release:
With a focus on the future resilience of the Global Positioning System (GPS) enterprise, Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) has secured an additional $114 million to modernize the GPS ground segment, helping strengthen the system’s security against future threats.
Recently, Lockheed Martin received two task orders from the U.S. Space Force to modernize the GPS ground segment. The task orders support the GPS IIIF Contingency Operations System and the Architecture Evolution Plan (AEP) x86Phase 1.
Under the first $96 million task order for the contingency system, Lockheed Martin will upgrade the current GPS ground system to control the GPS IIIF payload, enabling it to operate next-generation IIIF satellites.
Under the second $17.5 million task order for the AEP x86 Phase 1 work, the company will begin a three-phase comprehensive technology refresh of GPS ground hardware and software, further strengthening resiliency and reliability through a modular approach to the GPS ground system.
Together, these awards accelerate the delivery of secure GPS ground capabilities.
“Over the past decade, Lockheed Martin has consistently delivered and sustained operational GPS ground capability, evolving the system to meet the most demanding warfighter and commercial requirements,” said Christina Mancinelli, vice president of Global Communications & Navigation at Lockheed Martin. “This follow-on work underscores our unwavering commitment to rapidly provide a reliable, secure GPS enterprise that serves America’s defense and everyday users around the globe.”
WHY IT MATTERS
GPS ground segment upgrades made under these contracts will enable the deployment of more M-Code-enabled GPS IIIF spacecraft, strengthening anti-jamming capability and signal resilience for the warfighter, while maintaining reliable positioning, navigation and timing (PNT)services for critical civilian applications, including transportation, finance, telecommunications and utility management.
This work builds on the company’s longstanding partnership under the Space Force’s GPS Control Segment Sustainment (GCS II) contract and will ensure the GPS enterprise continues to provide resilient and reliable PNT services to military and civilian users. In April, Lockheed Martin received a $105 million contract for Contingency Launch Operations System for GPS IIIF to provide ground support for GPS IIIF launch, early-orbit and disposal services, ensuring rapid integration and operational readiness.
These awards further modernize the GPS enterprise following the launch of the last GPS III satellite in April, which strengthened the constellation tothe highest level to date. Lockheed Martin is currently manufacturing GPS IIIF satellites, which will provide improved accuracy and 63-times greater resiliency than legacy satellites.