Lockheed Martin GPS III Team on Schedule in Design Review Stage

Lockheed Martin GPS III Team on Schedule in Design Review Stage
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5898

Mar 9, 2009
GPS World

The Lockheed Martin team developing GPS III, the next-generation GPS spac=
ecraft, is=20
progressing on-schedule, achieving key milestones in the Preliminary Desi=
gn Review (PDR)=20
phase with the U.S. Air Force, according to Lockheed Martin.
GPS III will improve position, navigation and timing services and provide=
advanced=20
anti-jam capabilities yielding superior system security, accuracy and rel=
iability. The=20
first block of the new generation satellites, known as GPS IIIA, will del=
iver significant=20
enhancements over current GPS space vehicles, including a new internation=
al civil signal=20
(L1C), and increased M-Code anti-jam power with full earth coverage for m=
ilitary users.

GPS IIIA also incorporates an aggressive capability insertion program tha=
t lowers=20
technology and integration risks associated with the capabilities planned=
for future GPS=20
III satellites. The capability insertion program will ensure a graceful g=
rowth path,=20
minimizing re-design of the GPS IIIA satellites that are necessary to rea=
ch the full set=20
of GPS III warfighter capabilities in future increments.

"The joint government-industry team is off to a robust start validating o=
ur requirements=20
for this important program," said Lt. Col. Donald Frew, the U.S. Air Forc=
e GPS III program=20
manager. "Our back-to-basics approach in the execution of GPS III is alre=
ady yielding=20
excellent results and we look forward to achieving a successful segment-l=
evel review in May."

Lockheed Martin Space Systems (Newtown, Pennsylvania), along with industr=
y partners ITT=20
(Clifton, New Jersey) and General Dynamics (Gilbert, Arizona), have succe=
ssfully completed=20
19 out of 71 PDRs for key GPS III spacecraft subsystems and assemblies. T=
hese include=20
L-Band transmitters, antennas, solar arrays, power regulation unit, all a=
ttitude control=20
assemblies, as well as the Tracking Telemetry and Command (TT&C) subsyste=
m and all TT&C=20
assemblies. This effort will culminate in an overall GPS III Segment PDR =
in May to ensure=20
the preliminary design meets warfighter and civil requirements prior to a=
dvancing into the=20
Critical Design Review phase.

"Our progress in the preliminary design review stage is the result of an =
integrated=20
government-industry team focused on achieving operational excellence and =
mission success,"=20
said Dave Podlesney, Lockheed Martin's GPS III program director. "We look=
forward to=20
completing a comprehensive and efficient PDR phase to ensure a seamless t=
ransition to the=20
critical design review phase for the vitally important program."

The team is working under a $1.4 billion Development and Production con=
tract awarded in=20
May 2008 by the Global Positioning Systems Wing, Space and Missile System=
s Center, Los=20
Angeles Air Force Base, California, to produce the first two GPS IIIA sat=
ellites, with=20
first launch projected for 2014. The contract also includes options for u=
p to 10=20
additional spacecraft.

The GPS constellation provides critical situational awareness and preci=
sion weapon=20
guidance for the military and supports a wide range of civil, scientific =
and commercial=20
functions =E2=80=94 from air traffic control to the Internet =E2=80=94 wi=
th precision location and timing=20
information. Air Force Space Command's 2nd Space Operations Squadron (2SO=
PS), based at=20
Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado, manages and operates the GPS constell=
ation for both=20
civil and military users.