GPS III communications contract won by General Dynamics
NewsMarch 24, 2014
FAIRFAX, Va. - Lockheed Martin awarded General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems a $26 million contract from Lockheed Martin for the Network Communications Element (NCE) of the U.S. Air Force Global Positioning System (GPS) III.
General Dynamics was already working with Lockheed Martin on the NCE for the first four GPS III space vehicles (SV01-SV04), and for the procurement of long lead material for the second set of four space vehicles (SV05-SV08). This follow-on contract give General Dynamics the funding to complete the NCE for SV05 and SV06.
The NCE components from General Dynamics deliver the communications functions for the GPS III satellites, such as the space-to-space inter-satellite channel, the ground-to-space command and control channel, and the command and telemetry communications channels within each satellite. NCE components have already been delivered for SV01 and SV02. The NCEs for SV03 and SV04 are expected to be delivered by this summer.
GPS III replaces the GPS satellites currently in orbit. The new satellites are expected to deliver three times better accuracy, enable as much as eight times more powerful anti-jamming capabilities and also have enhancements that extend spacecraft life 25 percent longer. GPS III-series satellites also will have a new civil signal designed to be interoperable with other international global navigation satellite systems.
For more information, visit www.gd-ais.com.
