Raytheon Wins Next-Gen GPS Award

The U.S. Air Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles Air Force Base has awarded the Next Generation GPS Control Segment (OCX) program to Raytheon Intelligence & Information Systems of Aurora, Colo.

Raytheon beat a rival Northrop Grumman team for the $886 million, 73-month development contract, which represents the first two OSX development blocks.

The contract will include development and installation of hardware and software at GPS control stations at Schriever Air Force Base in Colorado and Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, deployment of advanced monitor stations at remote sites and initial contractor support with sustainment options for five years that could bring the total award value to more than $1.53 billion.

OCX replaces the current GPS ground segment, and will be capable of managing new GPS IIF and GPS III spacecraft as well as older Block IIR and IIR-M spacecraft.

“OCX is urgently needed not only to enable new warfighter capabilities but also to put the new GPS III space vehicles into mission operations,” said Col. Dave Madden, commander of the Global Positioning Systems Wing. The first GPS III launch is targeted for 2014.

Within the next six months the OSX program will hold an Integrated Baseline Review to establish the performance baseline for the effort. Block 1 is set to be delivered in 2015, with Block II to follow in 2016.