Another Major Player, Lockheed Martin, Vies For GPS

There’s certainly more than one player in the hunt to build the GPS Block III program for the U.S. Air Force’s nextgen global positioning system. With a proven track record of providing progressively advanced spacecraft for the current GPS constellation, why, it’s only natural that a Lockheed Martin [NYSE:LMT]-led team would toss their hat into the ring. For the GPS III competition, Lockheed Martin Space Systems will serve as the Space Segment prime contractor. ITT Corporation will provide the navigation payload. General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems will bring the Network Communications Element (NCE) into play, including the UHF Crosslink and Tracking Telemetry & Command (TT&C) subsystems.



The contract, when awarded, will give to the winner the opportunity to ensure eight GPS IIIA satellites are ready for the first launch which is predicted to occur in 2013. Then, eight GPS IIIB and 16 GPS IIIC satellites are planned for later launches. When the constellation is deployed, cross-linked command and control architecture will be featured. This will allow the entire constellation to be updated simultaneously from a single ground station. A new spot beam capability for enhanced M-Code coverage and increased resistance to hostile jamming will be incorporated, as well—Bethesda, Maryland—August 28, 2007