Lockheed Martin announced that it has received a $514 million contract from the U.S. Space Force to build Global Positioning System IIIF Space Vehicles 23 and 24.
The award brings Lockheed Martin’s total GPS IIIF commitment to 14 spacecraft and advances production of next-generation satellites designed to improve GPS resiliency, accuracy, and anti-jamming capabilities.
The GPS IIIF satellites are intended to modernize the GPS constellation as legacy spacecraft move beyond their intended design lives. The satellites will support positioning, navigation, and timing services for both military and civilian users.
The IIIF spacecraft will include Regional Military Protection capabilities that provide a 63-fold increase in anti-jam performance, helping warfighters access stronger GPS signals in contested environments. The satellites will also add more M-Code-enabled capabilities for secure military GPS access and include a digital navigation payload designed to improve accuracy and reliability.
The GPS constellation supports critical military platforms, including aircraft such as the F-35 and UH-60 Black Hawk, by enabling navigation, synchronization, position sharing, and precision mission capabilities. For civilian users, GPS supports banking transactions, telecommunications networks, emergency response, and everyday navigation.
Starting with Space Vehicle 13, GPS IIIF satellites are being built on Lockheed Martin’s evolved LM2100 Combat Bus, which provides greater cyber hardening, improved spacecraft power, propulsion, and electronics, and additional size, weight, and power capacity for future capability upgrades.
Lockheed Martin said it has completed the core mate milestone for three GPS IIIF satellites, with the remaining spacecraft in various stages of production. The company was also recently awarded a $105 million contract to continue modernizing the GPS ground segment.
Lockheed Martin is advancing GPS IIIF production at its Denver-area facilities and using technologies such as augmented reality and digital twins to accelerate build rates and deliver capabilities more quickly.
KEY QUOTE:
“Modernizing the constellation with highly resilient, next-generation space vehicles ensures warfighters have access to the GPS capabilities they require for their missions.”
“We continue to invest in advanced technology, facilities and the people who are the driving force in the production of this spacecraft that help our military secure peace.”
Christina Mancinelli, Vice President of Global Communications and Navigation at Lockheed Martin
