Lockheed Martin activates first GPS III satellite

Lockheed Martin -- a leading global aerospace, defense, security, and advanced technology company -- has successfully powered up the system module of the U.S Air Force’s next-generation Global Positioning System 3 satellites. This new development indicates that the company is on schedule to send the first satellite into orbit in 2014.

The successful turning on of the GPS III SV-1 shows the satellite’s mechanical integration, validating its interfaces and paves the way for electrical and integrated hardware-software testing. The next-generation GPS satellite will complete its Assembly, Integration and Test (AI&T) in Lockheed’s new GPS Processing Facility (GPF) specifically built for efficient and affordable satellite production.

The U.S Air Force GPS III program will affordably take over the old GPS satellites, at the same time enhancing the capability to meet the increasing demands of civilian, commercial and military users. GPS III satellites are expected to provide improved accuracy and greater anti-jamming power, all while enhancing the satellite’s design life and adding a new civil signal made to be interoperable with international global navigation satellite systems.

Lockheed Martin is under the contract of the U.S Air Force to build the first four and advanced procurement funding of long-lead components for the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth GPS III satellites. Reports said that the Air Force plans on buying up to 32 GPS III satellites.

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