Lockheed wins GPS ground deal

Lockheed Martin has won a U.S. Space Force contract worth up to $105 million to upgrade the ground software that flies GPS satellites. (breakingdefense.com) The award was made April 8 by Space Systems Command, and Lockheed said the work runs through March 2030. The contract covers launch, early-orbit operations and disposal support for GPS IIIF satellites using the Architecture Evolution Plan, or AEP, ground system. (airandspaceforces.com) GPS satellites need a control segment on the ground to send commands, upload navigation data and keep the constellation synchronized. GPS.gov says AEP has been the operational command-and-control system since 2007 and today manages the full on-orbit GPS fleet. (gps.gov) The immediate issue is GPS IIIF, the next batch of satellites after GPS III. The first IIIF launch is slated for fiscal 2027, and the new contract pays for AEP changes so that system can handle those spacecraft from launch through early operations. (airandspaceforces.com) That work cuts across a larger Pentagon fight over GPS OCX, the replacement ground system built by RTX, formerly Raytheon. SpaceNews reported the Space Force is moving to wind down or sharply narrow OCX after years of delays and technical problems. (spacenews.com) OCX started in 2010 as the program meant to run the newer GPS III satellites and add stronger military features. Aviation Week said the system was set up to modernize GPS ground control for the Block III era, but repeated schedule slips left the service relying on the older AEP path longer than planned. (aviationweek.com) The Defense Department’s test office said those OCX delays have held up full operational control of modernized civil signals, Military Code, or M-code, and navigation-warfare functions. The same report said AEP upgrades already allow command and control of GPS III satellites and provide core M-code capability from the existing constellation. (dote.osd.mil) Lockheed said the new work supports “resilient positioning, navigation and timing” services for military and civilian users. The company also said it is under contract for GPS spacecraft through vehicle 22, covering the GPS III and IIIF production line. (news.lockheedmartin.com, lockheedmartin.com) RTX has said the Space Force accepted delivery of a mission-capable OCX system in 2025 and that the company is working with the government on post-delivery concerns. Air & Space Forces reported the service said current GPS users would not be affected because AEP is already in operational use. (airandspaceforces.com) For now, the Space Force is paying to make sure the ground system it already uses can fly the next satellites too. That keeps GPS IIIF on a separate track from the unresolved OCX program. (breakingdefense.com, spacenews.com)