A Northrop Grumman engineer working on an Advanced EHF payload. Photo: Northrop Grumman

[Via Satellite 04-06-2016] Northrop Grumman has submitted a proposal to the United States Air Force for the next-generation Global Positioning System (GPS) 3 program. The Air Force is looking to update the GPS system, which has been delivering precise global position, navigation and timing services worldwide for more than two decades.

Northrop Grumman’s proposal is based on a navigational payload prototype built and tested in 2015 and a heritage space vehicle, proven to operate in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO). In addition to current GPS 3 capabilities, the company’s payload demonstrated enhanced transmission power for the military code, a critical capability for operating in regions of the world where jamming is prevalent.

The Air Force plans to award up to three $5 million study contracts in the third quarter of 2016, under the GPS 3 Space Vehicles 11+Phase 1 Production Readiness Feasibility Assessment Request-for-Proposal (RFP). The study contracts will run for 26 months, with two additional six-month options, preceding a competition for 22 spacecraft anticipated in 2018.