OCX & SBSS Both Part of Boeing’s Successful Contract Portfolio

The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has been selected to participate in the development of the nexgen Global Positioning System (GPS) ground system for the U.S. Air Force. Monikered as OCX, the system will complement the Air Force’s future GPS III spacecraft by offering better positioning service than today’s system as well as improved anti-jamming capabilities for the warfighter. Boeing is a subcontractor to Raytheon Company [NYSE: RTN], which was awarded the $160 million, 18-month contract by the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center in November. The first phase of the OCX contract progresses the program through a system design review and the concurrent development of a ground system prototype engineering model. The model will demonstrate improved mission capabilities for the warfighter as well as integration and compatibility across GPS satellite models operating today and in the future, including GPS IIF and GPS III. Boeing is currently producing 12 GPS IIF satellites, with the first scheduled to launch next year, and earlier this year submitted its proposal to the Air Force for the development and production of up to 12 GPS III satellites.



Boeing has also successfully completed a series of Space Based Space Surveillance (SBSS) systems tests. These are part of the development of a new operational sensor for the U.S. Space Surveillance Network. Tests of the SBSS system’s visible sensor, payload electronics and high speed gimbal further validate that the enhanced capability of SBSS will be twice as fast, substantially more sensitive and 10 times more accurate than the capabilities currently on orbit. Such results in improved detection of threats to America’s space assets. The recently completed SBSS milestones include recording the first image with a visible light sensor, powering up the spacecraft bus for the first time and the successful thermal vacuum testing of the visible sensor telescope. Boeing has overall responsibility for the SBSS system and is developing the SBSS ground segment while working with Ball Aerospace to develop the spacecraft and visible sensor—St. Louis, Missouri