Lockheed Martin Space Systems has received a $238 million contract to build the Air Force’s third and fourth GPS III satellites at its Waterton Canyon facility in Jefferson County.
“GPS is a global gold standard, providing accurate, reliable, continuous, free worldwide positioning, navigation and timing services,” said Col. Bernie Gruber, director of the U.S. Air Force’s GPS directorate.
“As the need for more capability increases,” Gruber said, “GPS III will allow us to affordably sustain and modernize the constellation by providing increased capabilities incrementally to better meet current and future needs.”
In 2008, the Air Force awarded Lockheed a $1.5 billion contract to build and test the GPS III prototype and the first two satellites, with an option for 10 more satellites.
The first satellite is scheduled for launch in May 2014. The Air Force is in the process of replacing aging GPS satellites with units that have more accuracy and improved anti-jamming power.
Raytheon Co.’s operations in Aurora will develop a GPS launch and checkout system under a $27.4 million contract awarded Thursday by the Air Force. The system will provide early launch and checkout of GPS III satellites, starting with the first one.
Raytheon is the prime contractor for the GPS Next Generation Operational Control System, an Air Force contract worth about $886.5 million to modernize ground-control support for GPS III.
Ann Schrader: 303-954-1967 or aschrader@denverpost.com
