Lockheed Martin Wins $114 Million to Modernize GPS Ground Segment

Lockheed Martin has received two task orders from the U.S. Space Force worth a combined $114 million to modernize the ground segment supporting the Global Positioning System (GPS).

The work is intended to improve the security, reliability and resilience of the GPS enterprise as the U.S. transitions to next-generation satellites.

The larger, $96 million task order covers the GPS IIIF Contingency Operations System. Lockheed Martin will upgrade the existing GPS ground system so it can control and operate the payloads aboard next-generation GPS IIIF satellites.

A separate $17.5 million award covers the first phase of the Architecture Evolution Plan (AEP) x86, a three-phase technology refresh of GPS ground hardware and software designed around a more modular architecture.

The upgrades will support the deployment of additional M-Code-enabled GPS IIIF satellites, which are designed to provide improved protection against jamming and greater signal resilience for military users.

Christina Mancinelli, Vice President of Global Communications & Navigation at Lockheed Martin, said the awards build on the company’s decade-long work maintaining and upgrading GPS ground capabilities. She emphasized that the latest contracts are focused on providing a more secure and reliable GPS system for both defense and civilian users.

The awards expand Lockheed Martin’s existing work with the U.S. Space Force under the GPS Control Segment Sustainment contract. They follow a $105 million award received in April for ground support covering GPS IIIF launch, early-orbit and disposal operations.

Lockheed Martin is also manufacturing GPS IIIF satellites, which the company says will provide improved accuracy and substantially greater resilience than legacy GPS spacecraft.