Raytheon completes testing on USAF GPS OCX controls
NewsJune 28, 2016
AURORA, Colo. Engineers at Raytheon completed the "Run For Record" test of the U.S. Air Force's Global Positioning System (GPS) Next Generation Operational Control System (OCX) Black Wide Area Network (B-WAN), which provides network connectivity to unclassified external interfaces for GPS OCX.
The component-level testing included mission capability and cyber controls, and officials say it was completed with a 100 percent requirements pass rate. The B-WAN is scheduled to deploy with the first use in 2017 as part of OCX Block 1 and Block 0, with the delivery of the Block 0 Launch and Checkout System.
OCX's development is delivered in "blocks," with Block 0 comprising the Launch and Checkout System to take GPS III satellites into early orbit. Block 1 builds on Block 0 to deliver the OCX capability, which allows the Air Force to transition from its current GPS ground controls to the GPS OCX. Block 2 delivers concurrently with Block 1 and includes GPS Navigation Warfare enhancements.
"This latest milestone shows that OCX will function securely with external interfaces to GPS, demonstrating the maturity of this critical development program," says Bill Sullivan, GPS OCX vice president and program manager for Raytheon.
Raytheon is under contract with the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center and the GPS OCX will replace current GPS operational control systems.
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