Lockheed Martin wins $105 million Space Force contract for GPS ground modernization

LITTLETON, Colo. - Lockheed Martin Space in Littleton, Colo., has been awarded a contract valued at up to $105 million by the U.S. Space Force to continue modernizing and sustaining the Global Positioning System (GPS) ground control network, supporting positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services for military and civilian users.

The award extends work under the Space Force’s Architecture Evolution Plan for GPS, a long-running effort to incrementally modernize the ground segment to ensure compatibility with current and next-generation space vehicles, including GPS III and GPS IIIF satellites.

Under the contract, Lockheed Martin will provide sustainment and modernization support for the GPS ground control system and support launch, early-orbit checkout, and disposal operations for GPS IIIF spacecraft. The effort is focused on maintaining and evolving the ground infrastructure that commands and controls the GPS constellation and processes navigation data used globally for timing and positioning services.

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The GPS system underpins a wide range of military operations and civilian infrastructure, including transportation, banking, telecommunications, and utilities.

Next-gen integration

The contract supports integration of next-generation GPS IIIF spacecraft into the operational enterprise by ensuring the ground segment can execute launch, early orbit operations, spacecraft checkout, and end-of-life disposal activities. GPS IIIF represents the next evolution of the space segment, but its performance is enabled by parallel upgrades to ground systems under the Architecture Evolution Plan.

THE GPS IIIF spacecraft introduces a series of improvements over the current GPS III generation, including enhanced resistance to electronic interference, with Lockheed Martin stating the satellites are designed to deliver up to 60 times greater anti-jam capability. The spacecraft also incorporates a fully digital navigation payload designed to increase signal flexibility and improve long-term upgradeability.

The next-generation satellites expand deployment of M-code, the encrypted military GPS signal designed to improve resistance to jamming and spoofing while increasing secure access for U.S. and allied forces. Greater availability of M-code-capable spacecraft is intended to improve global coverage and resiliency for military positioning, navigation and timing operations.

Bus background

GPS IIIF satellites are built on Lockheed Martin’s LM 2100-class spacecraft bus, which incorporates improved cybersecurity protections, enhanced onboard processing, and upgraded power and avionics systems. Each spacecraft also includes a dedicated search and rescue payload to support global distress beacon detection for aviation, maritime, and remote users, and a laser retroreflector array that enables precise ground-based laser ranging to improve orbital accuracy.

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The Space Force’s GPS ground control network is responsible for satellite command and control, constellation health monitoring, and generation of navigation and timing data. The modernization effort supported by this contract ensures the ground segment remains compatible with evolving GPS space vehicles and continues to deliver accurate, resilient global PNT services.

Lockheed Martin has completed production of the GPS III satellite line and is transitioning manufacturing to GPS IIIF spacecraft at its Colorado facility. GPS III satellites currently on orbit provide improved accuracy and resilience compared to legacy systems, while GPS IIIF is intended to further enhance performance through improved anti-jam capability, expanded military signal availability, and increased digital flexibility.