Steven Whitney: AF Eyes More GPS III Purchases to Bolster GPS Modernization Efforts

U.S. Air Force Col. Steven Whitney believes the updated global positioning system satellite that Lockheed Martin built for the service will work to deliver increased accuracy and security in GPS services, C4ISR & Networks reported Tuesday.

Rutrell Yasin writes that Whitney, director of the Space and Missile Systems Center’s GPS directorate, indicated the Air Force plans to purchase two more satellites to add to the contracted eight-satellite GPS III constellation in support of GPS modernization efforts.

The $245 million in contract options that the service branch awarded Lockheed in April 2014 cover only up to space vehicles seven and eight.

The first space vehicle – GPS III SV01 — is due for delivery by August 2016, the report said.

“Our joint team has laid out detailed schedules for satellites two through eight to keep a steady production flow,” said Mark Stewart, vice president of Lockheed’s navigation systems mission area.