GPS World

Tag: MUE

  • Lockheed Martin awarded GPS M-code early-use ground system upgrade

    Lockheed Martin awarded GPS M-code early-use ground system upgrade

    The U.S. Air Force has awarded Lockheed Martin a $45.5 million contract to provide military code (M-code) early use (MCEU) capability to the Global Positioning System (GPS).

    Part of the Air Force’s overall modernization plan for the GPS, M-code is an advanced, new signal designed to improve anti-jamming and protection from spoofing — as well as increased secure access — to military GPS signals for U.S. and allied armed forces.

    MCEU will provide command and control of M-code capability to eight GPS IIR-M and 12 GPS IIF satellites on orbit, as well as future GPS III satellites, which the Air Force expects will begin launching in 2018.

    MCEU is envisioned as a way to accelerate M-code’s deployment to support testing and fielding of modernized user equipment in support of the warfighter.

    The Military Code (M-Code) Early Use (MCEU) contract will accelerate deployment of command and control of M-code capability to GPS IIR-M and GPS IIF satellites currently on orbit, as well as future GPS III satellites (like GPS III SV02 above). (Photo: Lockheed Martin)

    The U.S. Air Force’s MCEU contract directs Lockheed Martin to upgrade the existing Architecture Evolution Plan (AEP) Operational Control System (OCS), allowing it to task, upload and monitor M-code within the GPS constellation. The contract includes new software and hardware development that will be deployed in 2019 to worldwide ground facilities that support the Air Force’s GPS.

    “When people think of GPS, they often think of the satellites that provide the signals, but do not remember the important ground system behind it,” said Mark Stewart, Lockheed Martin’s vice president for Navigation Systems. “We recognize the ‘ground’ is critical for any major space mission constellation and we are proud that we can help the Air Force with this part of their GPS modernization plan.”

    The AEP OCS — maintained by Lockheed Martin under the GPS Control Segment (GCS) Sustainment Contract — controls the 12 GPS IIR, 8 IIR-M and 12 IIF satellites in orbit today. The company has successfully implemented several recent projects to modernize and sustain the system for the Air Force.

    In June, Lockheed Martin deployed the first of its state-of-the-art GPS Monitor Station Technology Improvement Capability (MSTIC) receivers at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The software-defined MSTIC system replaces 30-year-old hardware, positioning the Air Force to take advantage of commercial off-the-shelf technology enhancements in processing power, reliability and cybersecurity in the future. Six Air Force AEP OCS monitoring stations around the world will receive the MSTIC upgrade by the end of 2017.

    In February 2016, the Air Force awarded Lockheed Martin the GPS III Contingency Operations (COps) contract to upgrade the AEP OCS with new capabilities so it could support the more powerful, next-generation GPS Block III satellites. The COps program passed a successful Critical Design Review milestone with the Air Force in December 2016.

    Also in 2016, under the GCS contract, Lockheed Martin completed the commercial off-the-shelf upgrade No. 2 (CUP2) project — part of a multi-year plan to modernize the AEP OCS’ technology and enhance the system’s ability to protect data and infrastructure from internal and external cyber threats, as well as improve its overall sustainability and operability. CUP2 is now fully operational and managing the current GPS constellation.

  • Raytheon Scores GPS Modernized User Equipment Contract

    Raytheon Co. has won a $61 million U.S. Air Force contract from the GPS Wing to complete the development and certification of next-generation GPS receivers.

    Under the Modernized User Equipment (MUE) program, circuit card technology will connect military users with new GPS navigation signals used in forthcoming enhanced GPS satellites. The receivers, which will be able to read the new M-code military signal, also will work effectively with legacy signal systems, Raytheon said.

    “The MUE program is raising the capability of military GPS equipment while lowering the cost for the warfighter,” said Phil Kelton, MUE program manager for Raytheon’s GPS and navigation systems business. “Raytheon’s approach to MUE takes advantage of breakthroughs in microelectronics technology, coupled with advanced security solutions to enable higher performance and greater integrity at less cost than today’s systems.”

    Kelton sees potential to achieve “true force-enhancing status” for military GPS capability though the proliferation of low-cost GPS modernized user equipment, according to the company. Raytheon is teamed on the program with General Dynamics and Trimble Navigation Systems.

    “The award of this second phase of the systems design and development contract allows us to complete the custom building-blocks being developed for the next-generation M-code GPS receivers,” said Michael Crisp, director of Raytheon GPS and navigation systems. It is developing two different form factors for receiver cards; this will allow modular upgrades of Raytheon’s avionics, weapons and integrated sensor systems ahead of the full deployment of the GPS III satellite constellation, Crisp said.

    In December of last year the U.S. Air Force also exercised a $50.7 million contract option with another contractor, Rockwell Collins, to complete part of the next phase of the MUE program. That work consists of receiver card development for ground and airborne applications, including test and security certification for next-generation GPS technology.

    The Air Force awarded the initial MUE contract of $27.9 million to Rockwell Collins in 2006 to develop and demonstrate user segment receiver cards, establishing the first proof of design for the future GPS architecture. That contract, executed through October 2007, supported preliminary design of the modernized receiver cards.