The U.S. Space Force has awarded Lockheed Martin a $514 million contract to build GPS IIIF Space Vehicles 23 and 24, bringing its total GPS IIIF commitment to 14 spacecraft.
With legacy spacecraft past their intended design life, the award marks a vital step in continued modernization of the constellation. The 14 upcoming GPS IIIF satellites will deliver advanced, reliable positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) capabilities for both military and civilian users.
IIIF capabilities include:
The Regional Military Protection capability that provides a 63-fold increase in anti-jam capabilities, allowing warfighters to access strong GPS signals in contested environments
Additional M-code-enabled satellites, allowing for secure GPS connection for warfighters
A digital navigation payload, increasing accuracy and reliability of IIIF spacecraft.
“Modernizing the constellation with highly resilient, next-generation space vehicles ensures warfighters have access to the GPS capabilities they require for their missions,” said Christina Mancinelli, vice president of global communications and navigation at Lockheed Martin. “We continue to invest in advanced technology, facilities and the people who are the driving force in the production of this spacecraft that help our military secure peace.”
Earlier this year, all Lockheed Martin-made GPS III satellites reached orbit. GPS III SV09 and SV10 each launched on accelerated timelines, bringing unprecedented levels of resiliency to the constellation.
The GPS constellation provides critical positioning, navigation and timing capabilities to key warfighter platforms made by Lockheed Martin. For example, the F‑35 uses GPS to determine its exact location, keep its systems perfectly synchronized, and share real‑time position data with other assets, enabling autonomous navigation and pinpoint strike capabilities.
Similarly, the UH-60 Black Hawk employs GPS to navigate accurately, deconflict with ground and air forces, and deliver cargo or weapons with high precision, enhancing mission safety and effectiveness.
For civilians, the GPS constellation underpins banking transactions, telecommunications networks, emergency‑response services, and everyday navigation. The new GPS IIIF satellites broadcast all civil signals — including the interoperable L1C and L5 — at greater accuracy and reliability.
Advanced design features speed and resiliency
GPS IIIF satellites are engineered for resiliency. Starting with SV13, these spacecraft are built on the evolved LM2100 Combat Bus, providing increased cyber-hardening, improved spacecraft power, propulsion and electronics. The LM2100 Combat Bus is also outfitted with additional size, weight and power to accommodate future capability insertions.
The company has already completed the core mate milestone — marking the official “birth” of a satellite — for three GPS IIIF satellites, with all other IIIF satellites in different phases of production. The company was also recently awarded a $105 million contract to continue modernization of the GPS ground segment. With these contracts, Lockheed Martin reaffirms its long-term commitment to a resilient, high-performance GPS constellation that supports billions of users worldwide.
Lockheed Martin continues to advance GPS IIIF production at its Denver area facilities, employing emerging technologies such as augmented reality and digital twins to accelerate build rates and ensure capabilities are delivered to the warfighter quickly.
Lockheed Martin has successfully completed the core mate phase of GPS IIIF Space Vehicle 11 ( SV11), a critical production milestone that marks the satellite’s formal “birth.”
Continued manufacturing and deployment of these next-generation GPS spacecraft is essential to maintaining reliable global coverage, with the GPS IIIF block introducing a suite of new capabilities that further strengthens the constellation’s resilience. GPS IIIF satellites are equipped with Regional Military Protection, improving anti-jamming capability by more than sixty times, giving warfighters a decisive edge against sophisticated electronic warfare threats.
GPS IIIF SV11 is the third GPS IIIF satellite to complete the core mate phase, after SV13 and SV14 completed core mate last year. GPS IIIF SV11 will be the first IIIF satellite to launch.
“Core mate of SV11 showcases the production momentum behind the next-generation GPS IIIF satellites as we continue to invest in advanced manufacturing,” said Christina Mancinelli, vice president of Global Communications & Navigation at Lockheed Martin. “With three GPS IIIF satellites past core mate, we’ve taken pivotal steps toward accelerating production, ensuring we’re delivering critical next-generation resiliency capabilities to the GPS constellation at the pace warfighters need to protect our nation.”
The SV11 satellite is also M-code-enabled, providing an encrypted, anti-spoofing signal that strengthens positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) capabilities for military users globally. Additionally, SV11 is equipped with a new search-and-rescue payload that will allow first responders to navigate to emergencies in remote locations.
With an eye on strengthening GPS, all GPS IIIF satellites starting with SV13 will be built on the evolved LM2100 Combat Bus, which adds additional cyber-hardening and improved spacecraft power, propulsion and electronics. These vehicles are equipped with extra size, weight and power, providing flexibility to integrate additional payloads quickly onto future space vehicles.
GPS IIIF satellites are manufactured at Lockheed Martin’s Denver, Colorado, facility, where the company is accelerating production through the use of augmented reality and digital twins. Lockheed Martin is currently under contract through GPS IIIF SV22 and recently completed all launches of GPS III space vehicles.
The U.S. Space Force and Lockheed Martin launched the GPS III Space Vehicle 10 (SV10) on April 21, marking the final satellite in the GPS III series and bringing the GPS constellation to its largest size to date.
Signal acquisition was achieved shortly after launch. The spacecraft is being managed at Lockheed Martin’s Denver-based launch and checkout operations center while it undergoes initial testing before integration into the operational network.
SV10 includes enhancements designed to improve the accuracy and resiliency of the constellation. Among its payloads is an optical crosslink demonstration designed to test direct satellite-to-satellite communication in orbit, a capability intended to strengthen system robustness.
The launch represents the fourth consecutive GPS mission conducted on an accelerated schedule.
GPS III satellites provide improved performance over earlier generations, including increased positioning accuracy, stronger resistance to jamming, and the addition of secure M-code signals for military users. The constellation supports positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) services for military, civil and commercial applications worldwide.
SV10 also carries a demonstration digital rubidium atomic frequency standard, an advanced clock designed to improve onboard timekeeping precision.
The deployment of SV10 concludes the GPS III series and precedes the next-generation GPS IIIF satellites. The upcoming series is expected to introduce additional capabilities, including enhanced anti-jamming features such as Regional Military Protection.
More than 30 GPS satellites are currently in orbit, providing global PNT services to billions of users across defense, infrastructure and commercial sectors.
Lockheed Martin has received a potential $105 million firm-fixed-price task order from the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command to supportGPS IIIF launch and on-orbit testing.
The award covers services related to the Architecture Evolution Plan (AEP) operational control system. This includes support for launch, early orbit operations and eventual disposal of GPS IIIF satellites (space vehicles SV11-22). The effort is part of ongoing work to sustain and manage next-generation positioning, navigation and timing capabilities for military users.
Work under the sole-source task order will take place in Colorado Springs, Colorado, through March 2030. The contract is managed by SSC’s satellite communication and PNT office at Peterson Space Force Base. SSC obligated $13.4 million from fiscal 2026 research, development, test and evaluation funds at the time of award.
Lockheed Martin’s previous contracts supporting the GPS IIIF program include a nine-year, $1.36 billion contract in 2018 to produce the 11th and 12th GPS IIIF satellites, and a $509.8 million contract modification for GPS IIIF space vehicles 21 and 22 granted in May 2025. SV-21 and SV-22 are expected to be delivered by November 2031.
DARPA selects Q-CTRL to develop next-gen sensors for advanced defense platforms.
Quantum software company Q-CTRL has been awarded two contracts under DARPA’s Robust Quantum Sensors (RoQS) program. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is an independent research and development agency within the U.S. Department of Defense.
The contracts, valued at $24.4 million, will augment Q-CTRL’s field-validated quantum sensing technologies for demanding real-world use cases in high-performance military vehicles.
Navigational technology that is resilient to denial, jamming, spoofing and other denials in the environment has become increasingly critical to defense applications, from battlefield operations to intelligence and surveillance. With conflict zones expanding, the risks to crewed and uncrewed defense missions are growing daily. Quantum sensing offers a complementary solution to GPS that is resilient against external interference while filling coverage gaps.
Quantum sensing offers a complementary solution to GPS that is resilient against external interference while filling coverage gaps.
Q-CTRL will develop next-generation quantum sensors for navigation based on their success in field trials of airborne, maritime, and ground-based quantum navigation augmented by their proprietary AI-powered software ruggedization. The technology enables sensors to operate reliably on moving defense platforms subject to challenging real-world conditions, without the need for traditional shielding or isolation.
Q-CTRL will be joined by Lockheed Martin as a subcontractor on one aspect of the RoQS program, leveraging its expertise in GPS and quantum technology.
DARPA established RoQS to accelerate the development, testing and validation of quantum sensors for real-world defense applications, which include maintaining stability against environmental interference, mechanical vibrations and heavy g-forces.
Some sectors and organizations are fast-maturing quantum navigation for use on land, sea, in space, and in the air. The aerospace industry is actively exploring the potential for magnetic navigation technologies, with companies like aircraft manufacturer Airbus pursuing their development.
Additionally, Q-CTRL’s programs target the complementary missions of geophysical mapping of gravity and magnetic fields, as well as positioning based on matching detected signals to the pre-generated maps. This approach provides huge advantages in navigational missions and delivers new insights into minerals prospecting and underground target detection.
Ironstone Opal, the company’s quantum-assured navigation system, recently outperformed a high-end inertial navigation system (INS) in flight for the first time, achieving up to 111x greater positioning accuracy when GPS was unavailable – a significant step forward for real-world applications of quantum sensing to defense missions. In these tests, the company’s proprietary AI-driven, software-level innovation was the key to the removal of platform interference.
Ironstone Opal’s navigation system was also recently validated in maritime trials on board the Royal Australian Naval vessel, MV Sycamore.
In March, Lockheed Martin and Q-CTRL were awarded a contract by the U.S. Department of Defense’s Innovation Unit to prototype a quantum-enabled inertial navigation system.
SpaceX successfully launched the GPS III SV-08 satellite into orbit on May 30 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, marking a significant milestone for the U.S. Space Force’s rapid-response capabilities. The mission, executed in close coordination with Lockheed Martin and SpaceX, launched the eighth GPS III satellite into the constellation after an accelerated preparation period of just three months, well ahead of the traditional two-year timeline for national security launches.
The GPS III SV-08, named after the pioneering NASA mathematician Ms. Katherine Johnson, is part of the next-generation GPS IIIF satellites designed to enhance accuracy and incorporate advanced anti-jamming features for both military and civilian users. Built by Lockheed Martin, the spacecraft is equipped with M-Code technology, delivering signals that are three times more accurate and eight times more resistant to jamming than previous generations. These improvements are critical as threats to GPS reliability, such as jamming and interference, continue to increase.
In a press statement, Col. Andrew Menschner of the Space Force emphasized the urgency behind the accelerated launch schedule to mitigate increasing GPS jamming and interference: “There are 38 GPS satellites in orbit, 31 of which operate on a daily basis. We have a healthy redundancy in the constellation. But the addition of SV-08 allows the constellation to build resistance against those who would try to interfere with GPS signals.”
This launch marks the second time the Space Force has demonstrated its ability to deploy a GPS satellite on a compressed schedule. The previous rapid-response mission, dubbed Rapid Response Trailblazer, saw the seventh GPS III satellite launched in December 2024 after five months of planning. For SV-08, the team further reduced the schedule by 40%, reflecting lessons learned and increased efficiency.
Looking ahead, the final two GPS III satellites will be launched on United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket, paving the way for the next-generation GPS IIIF satellites. According to Lockheed Martin, these spacecraft will introduce even greater anti-jamming capabilities, fully digital navigation payloads and advanced features such as regional military protection and improved search-and-rescue support, further enhancing the robustness and utility of the GPS constellation.
Lockheed Martin has demonstrated an uncrewed capability with a surrogate HIMARS launcher. On Dec. 4, 2024, the company showcased the launcher’s ability to navigate autonomously using non-emitting perception sensors, enabling seamless day and night operations without a human crew.
This advancement marks a substantial step toward integrating autonomous solutions into the existing HIMARS fleet, supporting the U.S. Army’s modernization efforts for artillery capabilities. The technology offers enhanced adaptability in complex environments and aligns with Lockheed Martin’s 21st Century Security vision.
The autonomous HIMARS system is designed to be easily integrated into existing platforms, maximizing the Army’s investment while retaining the option for crewed operations. This flexibility allows for adaptation to changing mission requirements and supports all-domain deterrence.
Looking ahead, the Army envisions pairing manned HIMARS with autonomous wingman launchers for more efficient artillery operations. A follow-up demonstration is scheduled for the latter half of 2025.
Following weather delays, the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command (SSC) and Space Operations Command expedited the Rapid Response Trailblazer launch schedule to fulfill a specific warfighter requirement. On Dec. 16, 2024, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket launched the GPS III SV-07 satellite from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.
For the mission, multiple Space Force organizations collaborated to retrieve an existing GPS III satellite from storage, expedite integration and launch vehicle preparation, which was quickly processed for launch. The success of the launch proved a two-fold concept of operations. SSC’s Assured Access to Space showcased its agility in partnering with industry to meet evolving national needs, completing a National Security Space class launch in less than five months.
This marks the first Space Operations Command mission led by Mission Delta 31 for a Space Vehicle launch, and it demonstrated exceptional flexibility by reducing the typical six-month pre-launch processing timeline to approximately three months, Space Operations Command said. This effort involved close coordination with Lockheed Martin in Colorado to rapidly prepare SV-07 for launch.
The GPS III SV-07 satellite joins a robust constellation comprising 31 active vehicles, seven in reserve status and three completed GPS III vehicles awaiting launch. Equipped with M-Code technology, these satellites offer improved anti-jamming and anti-spoofing capabilities, enhancing secure access to military GPS signals for U.S. and allied forces.
The Pentagon’s first batch of new and more capable GPS satellites, part of the GPS IIIF program, is facing significant delays. The first batch is eight to eleven months behind schedule, which the U.S. Space Force attributed to manufacturing difficulties encountered by contractor Lockheed Martin, particularly with complex components necessary for the satellites’ operation. Originally expected to be available for launch in April 2026, the first satellite’s delivery has now been pushed to November 2026.
The GPS IIIF program is a $9.2 billion initiative aimed at deploying up to 22 advanced satellites. The first ten satellites in this series are designed to enhance the GPS system with improved accuracy and jamming-resistant signals. These satellites will serve both critical defense applications, such as guiding smart bombs, and civilian uses, such as turn-by-turn navigation.
The new F-model satellites promise increased navigation accuracy, a signal compatible with similar European satellites, greater resistance to cyberattacks and jamming and civilian search-and-rescue capabilities to detect and locate emergency beacons.
“For the average driver using GPS navigation,” the new satellites will provide “enhanced route planning and navigation, reducing travel time and improving fuel efficiency” and a “consistent GPS service even in urban canyons and areas with tall buildings,” according to the Space Systems Command.
According to the US Space Force, The primary obstacle appears to be the production of the Mission Data Unit, a crucial new component for improved navigation. Bloomberg reported that the subcontractor, L3Harris Technologies, manufactures this unit and is experiencing technical issues.
Despite these setbacks, Lockheed Martin is reportedly on track to meet the contracted delivery dates, even if they miss the Space Force’s preferred “available for launch” schedule.
Lockheed Martin’s fixed-price contract includes incentives for meeting schedules and keeping costs below U.S. targets. However, the Space Systems Command has indicated that some criteria have not been met, resulting in reduced profit for Lockheed Martin. The exact amount of lost payments has not been disclosed.
The Space System Command notes that these delays occur against global inflation and supply chain challenges. While these factors have affected industries worldwide, the Space System Command emphasizes that Lockheed Martin, as the prime contractor, is responsible for managing all aspects of the GPS IIIF satellite development and production.
The GPS IIIF program remains a critical component of the U.S. Space Force’s efforts to modernize the GPS constellation, ensuring its continued reliability and effectiveness for both military and civilian applications in the face of evolving global challenges.
It may be hard to remember — or imagine — life without the Global Positioning System (GPS). From finding the nearest Dunkin’ Donuts to making ATM withdrawals, GPS is part of everyday life. It makes global finance possible, first responders faster, electric grids smarter and industries more efficient. Without GPS, the critical infrastructure that powers homes and workspaces, mobilizes roads and rails, guides air travel, delivers news and even produces food could come to a grinding halt. That fact is not lost on the United States’ adversaries.
Modernizing GPS to make it work better in times of peace and to ensure its resilience in times of conflict is a prime responsibility of the Space Systems Command (SSC) of the U.S. Space Force (USSF).
History
When it comes to anniversaries, 2023 is a big year for GPS. It’s widely considered to be the 50-year anniversary of GPS because it was on December 17, 1973, that the Defense Systems Acquisition Review Council (DSARC) gave U.S. Air Force Col. Bradford Parkinson, now retired and hailed as the father of GPS by many in the aeronautics and astronautics sectors, approval to proceed with development of what would become today’s 31-satellite GPS constellation.
It also marks 40 years since President Ronald Reagan authorized the use of GPS for civil aviation following the downing of Korean Air Lines Flight 007, after it inadvertently entered hostile air space. This year is also GPS’s 30-year anniversary of initial operating capability and the 20-year anniversary of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), which enhances the accuracy and integrity of GPS services across the entire National Airspace System.
At the most recent meeting of the Civil GPS Service Interface Committee, the recognized worldwide forum for effective interaction between civil GPS users and GPS authorities, Parkinson — who, after his service in the U.S. Air Force earned a Ph.D. and has been a professor at Stanford University for decades — recounted his first-hand experience making GPS a reality. The former chief architect for GPS, who led original advocacy for the system as an Air Force colonel, described the incredible challenges and numerous unique innovations involved in starting this program.
Today’s GPS continues to deliver on its commitments for accuracy, integrity, availability, continuity and coverage. It is considered by many the gold standard in navigation and timing. Yet challenges remain, posed by an increasingly contested space domain and emerging threats from pacing challengers and adversarial nations. Advancing, maintaining and modernizing the GPS enterprise for the benefit of commercial, civil and military users falls under the responsibility of SSC and is carried out by the field command’s Military Communications and Positioning, Navigation & Timing program executive office (SSC/MilComm & PNT), in collaboration with its exceptional mission partners, and launch services provided by SSC’s Assured Access to Space program executive office.
As we celebrate the multiple GPS anniversaries, it is worth exploring successes in GPS modernization. This update will explore the exciting advancements in the GPS space systems, user equipment, and control systems.
Space Systems
On January 18, the Lockheed Martin GPS III Space Vehicle 6 (SV06) launched into orbit aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket out of Cape Canaveral, Florida. The successful launch of SV06 and handoff to the USSF’s Space Operations Command/Space Delta 8/2nd Space Operations Squadron marked another key step in the larger goal of modernizing the GPS constellation. SV06 is the sixth GPS III satellite to be launched and is equipped with the full suite of modernized signals and capabilities. The GPS III satellites are more capable and resilient than their predecessors. Improvements include three times greater accuracy and up to eight times improved anti-jamming capabilities.
In preparation for future launches, the GPS III team has been diligently working with the Assured Access to Space Launch Enterprise to ensure rigorous and successful integration of the GPS III spacecraft’s launch systems onto a brand-new rocket, the United Launch Alliance Vulcan Launch Vehicle. GPS III SV07/Vulcan is targeted for launch in the summer of 2024.
Additionally, production of the tenth and final space vehicle in the GPS III fleet was finalized this year and it has a target launch date of 2026. GPS III Space Vehicles 7-10 are in storage and available for launch, awaiting launch call-up.
The modernization, however, doesn’t end there. GPS IIIF continued to make progress this year with development and integration of the follow-on spacecraft program with 10 vehicles now in production. GPS IIIF Non-Flight Satellite Testbed completed panel integration and initial system performance testing and the program completed an integrated baseline review. The GPS IIIF team worked with the National Security Agency to successfully complete an information assurance preliminary design review, one of the first such reviews of its kind. The team has also made essential inputs to the planning for the future GPS IIIF launch and checkout capability.
GPS III Space Vehicle 06 (SV06) was launched Jan. 18 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. It is the 18th GPS satellite to broadcast the L5 signal.
User Equipment
SSC/MilComm & PNT actively manages and maintains the public GPS interface specifications that allow industry to build civil receivers that successfully capture and process the GPS signal-in-space satellite-broadcast. Simultaneously, SSC also leads design and development of military receivers, currently the Military GPS User Equipment (MGUE). In April, the MGUE Increment 1 team successfully completed technical requirements verification on its MGUE GPS receiver application module — a standard electronic module specifically designed for aviation and maritime users. This allowed the MGUE Inc 1 program to deliver its new aviation and maritime software to the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy to support the lead platform integration and testing on the B-2 Spirit bomber and the Arleigh Burke guided-missile destroyer. This is the first fully functional GPS aviation and maritime software suite to support the jam-resistant military M-code signal.
GPS has an active and successful foreign military sales (FMS) program with 60 allied partners, and many of them are highly engaged with SSC/MilComm & PNT to acquire MGUE receivers with their M-code capabilities. According to the Department of State, U.S. allies and partners purchase approximately $45 billion annually in arms, equipment, and training — many equipped with GPS — via FMS.
This spring, the MGUE Increment 2 team, developing an advanced, follow-on receiver, completed the new Next Generation Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), the first of two major Critical Design Reviews (CDRs) with mission partner BAE Systems. That success was followed by a second CDR this summer for the MGUE Increment 2 Miniature Serial Interface (MSI) receiver card, which integrates the Next Generation ASIC along with a host of other innovations. L3Harris, a mission partner, has also successfully completed its own next generation ASIC CDR and is on-track for an MSI CDR in October. MGUE Increment 2 also awarded a Joint Modernized Handheld contract to the Technology Advancement Group, enabling this industry partner to move forward on its MGUE Increment 2 Handheld initiative.
Control Systems
While the current operational control system continues performing at a high level, a major update to the GPS modernization architecture is underway. In March 2022, the USSF began formal testing of the Next Generation Operational Control System (OCX) Block 1/2 system through the Functional Qualification Test designed to test OCX requirements. Currently, preparations are underway to follow that up with a major government-led Integrated Systems Test.
OCX developmental testing is an important part of the software development process. Thorough developmental testing can help ensure that OCX is of high quality and meets all requirements. Testing is rigorous and comprehensive; it is a complex and challenging undertaking, but one necessary to ensure OCX is ready for operational use before it is transitioned into service. SSC’s program office is taking the necessary steps to ensure that it will be a success.
The OCX 3F program also contributes to SSC’s advancements in GPS control systems. The follow-on to OCX for support to GPS IIIF spacecraft has successfully completed a Critical Capability Release for the GPS IIIF launch and checkout capability.
GPS IIF
Sustainment
SSC/MilComm & PNT’s GPS Support Delta has a legacy of providing sustainment expertise for Space Operations Command’s operations team. It sustains a global network including a Master Control Station (MCS), Alternate MCS, 11 command-and-control antennas, and 16 monitoring sites, plus 38 on-orbit GPS spacecraft. The sustainment team performs seamlessly, anticipating issues, collaborating with operators, updating servers and software tools, enhancing cyber secutiry and fine-tuning GPS to keep it running at peak performance.
Future Opportunities
In 2019, the department of the Air Force designated the Navigation Technology Satellite-3 (NTS-3) as a Vanguard program and the Department of Defense’s first experimental integrated navigation satellite system in nearly 50 years. Co-sponsored by SSC and the Air Force Research Laboratory, NTS-3 is helping to pave the way for more robust and resilient positioning, navigation, and timing.
In June, SSC/MilComm & PNT hosted its first Alternate/Augmented PNT Reverse Industry Day at SSC’s new Commercial Space Marketplace for Innovation and Collaboration Center. The event was a unique opportunity for government leaders and technical experts to hear directly from industry in a one-on-one environment about their many exciting innovations and opportunities as well as challenges. SSC was joined by its close government and interagency partners, including representatives from the Department of Transportation, the National Space-Based PNT Coordination Office, the Space Operations Command/Mission Area Team, the Air Force Research Laboratory, and the Space Development Agency. Through the event, SSC gained market intelligence and made many valuable industry connections for future investments.
Conclusion
As the nation celebrates an exciting 50-year anniversary of GPS, continued enhancements in the three elements of the GPS enterprise — space systems, user equipment, and control systems — represent significant milestones toward GPS modernization. This essential upgrade is delivering many new GPS capabilities — including robust new signals such as M-code, L2C, L5, and L1C — while preserving backward compatibility for GPS legacy signal users. GPS modernization will enhance utility, make the system more robust and resilient, and ensure that the United States, its allies, and its government agency partners have access to the most accurate and reliable navigation and timing services available. At the same time, while we continue to look for ways to (in the words of the National Space-Based PNT Advisory Board) “protect, toughen, and augment” GPS capabilities, we are also actively engaged in evaluating ways to incorporate alternate sources of PNT, as well as GPS augmentation, that will continue to make PNT capabilities even more robust and resilient in the future.
The U.S. Army has awarded Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman other transaction agreements (OATs) for the first phase of the Launched Effects (LE) program.
Launched Effects “will provide standoff sense and effect capabilities for soldiers while keeping air and ground forces outside the range of adversary weapon systems,” according to the service’s Program Executive Office for Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors. It also said LE will also support forces entering and exiting mission areas.
Northrop has been awarded for two payloads and Lockheed Martin has been awarded for one, with each award valued at about $100,000, according to the Army. The OTA will total about $37 million over all three phases.
The LE program consists of three phases. During that span, the Army aims to mature payloads from a technology readiness level of 6, a prototype system that has been tested in a relevant environment, to TRL 7, a prototype that has been demonstrated in an operational environment.
Launched effects have been successfully tested by the Army in the past, including at Project Convergence. In January 2023, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems announced its Eaglet launched-effect flew for the first time, dropping off an Army-owned Gray Eagle Extended Range UAV during a demonstration in Utah.
Image: Lance Cpl. Kayla Rainbolt, Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort
On Sept. 18, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Cpl. Christian Cortez, a pilot, set out on a training mission from the Marine Corps Air Station in Beaufort, South Carolina, only to eject from his Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightening II fighter jet over North Carolina. The U.S. military then lost the expensive, highly automated, lethal jet that was still in flight, as it was set on autopilot when the pilot ejected.
During the mishap, the U.S. Air Force Joint Base Charleston made a highly usual plea to the public to call with information regarding the lost plane. It is also still unclear why the pilot had to bail out of the jet and those details are actively under investigation.
The U.S. Marine Corps confirmed on Sept. 19, that debris had been found in South Carolina in Williamsburg County, north of Charleston, reported The New York Times. Joint Base Charleston stated the jet debris is located about two hours north of the base and it is urging residents to avoid the area as the recovery team secures the scene.
Teams from JB Charleston, @MCASBeaufortSC, the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing out
of MCAS Cherry Point, Navy Region Southeast, the FAA, the Civil Air Patrol, as well as local, county, and state law enforcement across South Carolina have been working together to locate the U.S. Marine…
The jet search team consisted of the Second Marine Aircraft Wing, Navy regional authorities in the southeast, the Civil Air Patrol, the Federal Aviation Administration, and local law enforcement teams.
The Marine Corp released a statement on Sept. 18, stating that its acting commander, Gen. Eric M. Smith, had directed all Marine Corps aviation units to conduct a two-day pause in operations to discuss aviation safety matters and best practices. The statement said that the directive came after three Class-A aviation mishaps occurred during the last six weeks.
During the pause of operations, aviation commanders plan to review the service’s flight practices, procedures, and policies.
The jet
Lockheed Martin’s website states, “with stealth technology, advanced sensors, supersonic speed, weapons capacity and superior range, the F-35 is the most lethal, survivable and connected aircraft in the world. More than a fighter jet, the F-35’s ability to collect, analyze and share data, is a powerful force multiplier that enhances all airborne, surface and ground-based assets in the battlespace enabling men and women in uniform to execute their mission and return home safely.”
The F-35 program is the most expensive U.S. weapons program of all time and is expected to cost more than $400 billion in development and acquisition and $1.2 trillion to operate and maintain the fleet over 60 years. Each jet costs more than $160 million, depending on the variant.
In late 2019, Lockheed Martin received a $25 million initial contract for engineering and manufacturing development for the GPS Spatial Temporal Anti-Jam Receiver (GSTAR) system that was integrated into the F-35 as part of its modernization phase, also known as Block 4. The GSTAR provides protection against enemy jamming and spoofing by utilizing critical GPS capabilities that can quickly adapt to meet specific platform requirements.
Several unanswered questions
Several details of this story have left many wondering exactly how this U.S. fighter jet just went missing in U.S. airspace without anyone being able to locate it or know its heading. It is an expensive, highly automated, weaponized aircraft that can create catastrophic damage to its surroundings.
As this investigation is ongoing, further details about this incident have not been reported.
