Lockheed wins GPS III

Lockheed wins GPS III
By Gayle S. Putrich - Staff writer
Posted : Friday May 16, 2008 9:36:31 EDT

Lockheed Martin will build the Air Force’s next-generation Global Positioning System navigation satellites, beating out Boeing for the $1.5 billion contract, the Pentagon confirmed late Thursday.

Lockheed is already building the GPS IIR-M satellites, the sixth of which was launched March 15. The last of the IIR-Ms, which will include the L5 demonstration signal for improvements to civil use, is expected to go up in late June or early July.

The GPS III contract — worth an estimated $1.5 billon but expected to grow — is for the development of two initial research and development satellites. Though considered “R and D birds,” they will be fully operational satellites, said Col. Dave Madden, commander of the Air Force’s Global Positioning Wing.

The new GPS constellation, with 500 times the transmission power of the current one, will resist jamming and provide better accuracy with faster clock update rates. Stronger signals will also benefit civilian agencies such as the Federal Aviation Administration, which is expected to use the satellites’ signals to improve air-traffic control in U.S. skies.

The contract includes five options of two space vehicles each for a total of 12 possible Block A satellites, including the two initial birds, with an overall price tag of $3.568 billion.

Rest of article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/05/defense_GPSIII_051508/