[Satellite Today – 5-16-08] Lockheed Martin was awarded the contract to develop the GPS 3 constellation, the U.S. Air Force announced May 15.
    The system, which will be acquired in three blocks, will improve upon the existing GPS constellation by introducing a new civil signal as well as providing increased system security, accuracy and reliability for civilian and military users.
    Under the $1.5 billion development and production contract, a team of Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co., ITT Corp. and General Dynamics will produce eight GPS 3A satellites, with the first launch projected for 2014.  Eight GPS 3B and 16 GPS 3C satellites are planned for later increments, with each increment including additional capabilities based on technical maturity. When fully deployed, the GPS 3 constellation will feature a cross-linked command and control architecture, allowing the entire GPS constellation to be updated simultaneously from a single ground station.
    Lockheed Martin won the contract in a competition with Boeing, while Raytheon and Northrop Grumman are competing to develop the OCX systems, which include satellite command and control, mission planning, constellation management, monitoring stations and ground antennas for the satellites.