GPS ground antenna at Schriever Air Force Base, home of the 50th Space Wing. Photo: Raytheon

Raytheon‘s Global Positioning System (GPS) Next-Generation Operational Control System program, known as GPS OCX, completed final qualification testing of the system’s modernized monitor station receivers, which are now ready to be installed around the world starting in August. GPS OCX is the ground control segment of a U.S. Air Force-led effort to modernize America’s GPS system.

The receivers will measure and monitor legacy military and civilian signals sent by the current GPS satellite constellation plus the new signals sent by the next-generation GPS III. The receivers will also feed correction models at the master control station, giving U.S. Air Force satellite controllers the information necessary to make adjustments to help maximize accuracy.