Lockheed Martin has secured a $514 million contract from the U.S. Space Force to build two additional Global Positioning System (GPS) IIIF satellites, expanding the company’s total commitment under the program to 14 spacecraft.
The award covers GPS IIIF Space Vehicles 23 and 24 and supports ongoing efforts to modernize the GPS constellation as older satellites continue to exceed their original design lifespans.
The GPS IIIF program is intended to enhance positioning, navigation and timing services for both military and civilian users worldwide, while improving resilience against emerging threats.
Enhanced Military Capabilities
According to Lockheed Martin, the GPS IIIF satellites will feature Regional Military Protection (RMP), providing a 63-fold increase in anti-jamming capability compared with current systems.
The enhanced capability is designed to help military personnel maintain access to reliable GPS signals in contested and electronically challenged environments.
The spacecraft will also expand the number of satellites supporting M-Code, the encrypted military GPS signal that provides secure and resistant navigation services for warfighters.
In addition, a new digital navigation payload is expected to improve the accuracy, reliability and overall performance of the next-generation satellites.
“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.”
Supporting Military and Civilian Users
The GPS network remains a critical component of military operations, supporting navigation, synchronization and targeting functions across multiple platforms.
Lockheed Martin noted that aircraft such as the F-35 rely on GPS for precise positioning, mission coordination and real-time data sharing, while helicopters including the UH-60 Black Hawk use GPS for navigation, force coordination and accurate cargo or weapons delivery.
Beyond defense applications, GPS supports a wide range of civilian services, including telecommunications, financial transactions, emergency response systems and everyday navigation.
The GPS IIIF satellites will broadcast all civilian GPS signals, including interoperable L1C and L5 signals, with improved reliability and accuracy.
Built on the LM2100 Combat Bus
Beginning with Space Vehicle 13, GPS IIIF satellites are being built on Lockheed Martin’s evolved LM2100 Combat Bus platform.
The company said the upgraded spacecraft architecture provides enhanced cyber resilience, increased power generation, improved propulsion systems and upgraded electronics.
The platform also offers additional size, weight and power margins to support future technology upgrades and mission enhancements throughout the satellites’ operational lives.
Production Progress Continues
Lockheed Martin reported that all GPS III satellites built under earlier phases of the program successfully reached orbit earlier this year, including GPS III SV09 and SV10, which were launched on accelerated schedules to strengthen constellation resilience.
The company has also completed the core mate milestone for three GPS IIIF satellites, a major manufacturing stage often described as the official “birth” of a spacecraft. Additional satellites are currently progressing through various stages of production.
Alongside the spacecraft contract, Lockheed Martin recently received a separate $105 million award to continue modernization of the GPS ground control segment.
The company said it is leveraging technologies such as augmented reality and digital twin systems at its Denver-area production facilities to improve manufacturing efficiency and accelerate delivery schedules.
The latest contract reinforces the long-term effort by the U.S. Space Force and Lockheed Martin to maintain a resilient, secure and high-performance GPS constellation serving billions of users around the world.
