USAF

The US Air Force (USAF) has awarded a Phase I production readiness assessment contract to Lockheed Martin for future global positioning system (GPS) III satellites in an effort to improve warfighters’ capabilities.

Under the contract, Lockheed Martin will demonstrate the flexible design of the GPS III satellites over a period of 26 months.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Premium Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Related Company Profiles

View all

The $5m contract was awarded to the company earlier this month.

Lockheed Martin said that its GPS III satellites can be upgraded in space to add new signals or missions.

The USAF is seeking regional military protection capability for the future GPS III satellites to better operate in specific contested and challenging environments.

See Also:

Lockheed Martin navigation systems vice-president Mark Stewart said: "Lockheed Martin has already made significant progress in the area of Regional Military Protection and we are confident our GPS III will be able to bring enhanced capability to the warfighters wherever and whenever they need it.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.
"With this and the addition of a long-planned, fully-digital navigation payload, our GPS III design will provide the Air Force with maximum flexibility for all their current and future missions."

"With this and the addition of a long-planned, fully-digital navigation payload, our GPS III design will provide the Air Force with maximum flexibility for all their current and future missions."

In December, Lockheed completed system-level thermal vacuum (TVAC) testing of the first GPS III satellite.

Seven more GPS III satellites are being produced at Lockheed Martin’s GPS processing facility in Denver.

Lockheed has already completed a preliminary design review for two future requirements, the accuracy-boosting Laser Retro-reflector Array and a hosted payload for search and rescue missions, for the future GPS III satellites in 2013.

Image: Lockheed Martin’s first GPS III satellite in environmental testing at the company’s GPS III processing facility near Denver. Photo: courtesy of Lockheed Martin Corporation.