The contract will see Lockheed Martin "continue to sustain and further modernise the global positioning system (GPS) satellite constellation’s ground control system", which is a follow-on from the current contract awarded in 2013.
The continued upgrade of the GPS Architecture Evolution Plan Operational Control Segment (AEP OCS) is included in the GCS II contract, which allows the legacy ground control system to support GPS III satellite on-orbit operations.
These have been developed under the GPS III Contingency Operations (COps) program, which will enable the AEP OCS to "support the positioning, navigation and timing missions of the Air Force's new GPS III satellites".
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“Lockheed Martin’s experience integrating GCS projects as well as the system engineering and software integration performed on GPS III Contingency Operations (COps) and M-Code Early Use (MCEU) position us well to deliver GCS II,” said Maria Demaree, vice president and general manager of mission solutions for Lockheed Martin Space.
“We look forward to supporting the Air Force as it deploys the next-generation GPS III satellites and their new capabilities for our warfighters.”
GCS II will also see Lockheed Martin support the capability of the operational M-code, which is a "criticial warfighter capability" that would be used to support missions in contested environments.
This capability is aiming to be deployed by 2020.
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Lockheed Martin has executed numerous modifications to the OCS under the current GCS contract, including the COTS Upgrade 3/Ground Antenna Air Force Satellite Control Network Interface Technology Refresh upgrade.
These upgrades have modernised the original infrastructure of the OCS, which "improved the cyber posture and added mission capability".
Lockheed Martin said the GCS II contract "continues that commitment to evolving the OCS to address today's mission needs".
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