OCX Archives - Inside GNSS - Global Navigation Satellite Systems Engineering, Policy, and Design

February 17, 2022

Military GPS Equipment Delays Prompt Army, Marines to Buy Direct, Says Latest Pentagon Report

U.S. military efforts to field jam-resistant GPS weaponry not only run behind schedule, they continue to fall back, according to the annual report from the Department of Defense (DoD) Director, Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) Nickolas Guertin. Because “the lack of M-code capable receivers limits the M-code use by U.S. and allied warfighters,” branches of the Armed Forces are now sourcing directly from commercial suppliers.

By Inside GNSS

May 6, 2021

Counting 0, 1, 2, 3F: The Long Hello of GPS OCX

The United States Space Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) awarded a $228 million contract to Raytheon Intelligence and Space for the GPS Next-Generation Operational Control System (OCX) Follow-On (OCX 3F).

By Inside GNSS

March 27, 2020

OCX Hardware Must Be Replaced; Effect on Schedule Unknown

The U.S. Space Force ordered replacement of the computer hardware in the new GPS ground system due to the due to the sale of IBM’s computer product line to a Chinese company, and the consequent cybersecurity risk posed by the IBM hardware in use.

By Dee Ann Divis

December 13, 2019

OCX on Schedule; Cyber Features May Inform AF Cross-Mission Ground System

The previously-troubled program to build a new GPS ground control system has stayed on track for the last two and a half years and is moving along as planned, said Lt. Gen. John ‘JT’ Thompson, commander of the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC).

By Dee Ann Divis

October 2, 2019

With Coding and Hardware Development Complete, OCX Starts Integration

The software and hardware development phase of the new GPS ground system program is now complete and the team is moving on to integration and testing, prime contractor Raytheon said in a statement.

By Dee Ann Divis

August 22, 2019

2nd Lockheed Martin-Built Next Gen GPS III Satellite Responding to Commands, Under Self-Propulsion

DENVER, August 22, 2019 – The U.S. Air Force’s second next-generation GPS III satellite, built by Lockheed Martin, is responding to commands, under control and now using its own internal propulsion system to get to orbit following its successful launch this morning.

By Inside GNSS

IGM 20190821 OCX ART courtesy of AIr Force

August 21, 2019

AF Plans to Award Raytheon OCX Interim Support Contract

Air Force Space Command announced its intent this week to award Raytheon a sole source contract to support the new GPS ground system though the wording of the announcement left some question as to when delivery of that system would take place.

By Dee Ann Divis

July 24, 2019

House and Senate Authorizers Aligned on Full GPS Spending

House and Senate lawmakers have agreed on authorizing the administration’s entire $1.757 billion budget request for the GPS program with the exception of a $10 million trim to the GPS III Follow-On (GPS IIIF) program.

By Dee Ann Divis

GPS 20190504 Budget Hse Committee ART louis-velazquez-588272-unsplash

June 4, 2019

House Appropriations Approves 99% of GPS Budget Request

The House Appropriations Committee approved all but $10 million of the $1.758 billion requested by the White House for the GPS program.

By Dee Ann Divis

March 24, 2019

FY20 Budget Request Focuses on GPS IIIF, Boosts Money for User Equipment

The recently released White House budget request includes money to buy the first of the GPS III follow-on satellites (GPS IIIF) and a nearly 30 percent increase in the budget for M-code capable user equipment in fiscal year 2020 (FY20).

By Dee Ann Divis

September 14, 2018

Air Force, Lockheed Martin Plan Updates to Ground Control System for New GPS III Satellites

Once the next-generation GPS III satellites begin launching later this year, a series of updates to the current ground control system from Lockheed Martin will help the U.S. Air Force gain early command and control of the new satellites for testing and operations.

By Inside GNSS

August 15, 2018

Final Defense Authorization Act Supports GPS Spending, Cuts Back-Up

The newly signed Defense Authorization Act incorporates a number of GPS-related provisions though a measure ordering the creation of a GPS timing back-up was pulled by conferees as they hammered out their final deal.

By Dee Ann Divis