U.S. Air Force Ready to Launch Next Generation Lockheed Martin GPS III Satellite
Update on GPS III Satellite Launches
As preparations intensify, the first Lockheed Martin-built (NYSE: LMT) GPS III satellite is set to ship to the launch pad. The U.S. Air Force has officially confirmed that the second GPS III satellite is complete, thoroughly tested, and ready for launch.
The “Available for Launch” status marks the successful final acceptance of Lockheed Martin’s second GPS III Space Vehicle (GPS III SV02), indicating it’s technically sound and poised for deployment. This satellite will introduce groundbreaking capabilities to U.S. and allied military forces, as well as a new civil signal aimed at enhancing connectivity for commercial and civilian users worldwide.
Currently, GPS III SV02 is waiting for its official launch call at Lockheed Martin’s GPS III Processing Facility clean room in Denver. Earlier this June, the Air Force initiated the launch process for its first GPS III satellite.
“The inaugural GPS III satellite, GPS III SV01, was deemed ‘Available for Launch’ in September 2017 and is now gearing up for shipment to Cape Canaveral, Florida, with a launch scheduled before the year’s end,” stated Johnathon Caldwell, Lockheed Martin’s program manager for Navigation Systems. “With two GPS III satellites fully prepared, and a third expected to be ready by early next year, we are generating significant momentum. These satellites are set to modernize the existing GPS constellation with innovative capabilities and high-tech advancements.”
The GPS III is set to be the most powerful GPS satellite in orbit, boasting three times better accuracy and enhanced anti-jamming capabilities—up to eight times greater than prior models. Its new L1C civil signal will also ensure interoperability with other global navigation satellite systems around the world.
Lockheed Martin is currently in full production of ten GPS III satellites at its Processing Facility located near Denver.
This past June, GPS III SV03 successfully completed Thermal Vacuum testing—rigorous environmental trials designed to replicate the harsh conditions of space operations. Moreover, in May, the antenna deck was installed on GPS III SV04, rendering it a complete satellite ready for environmental testing.
Following the progress of GPS III SV04, the fifth, sixth, and seventh GPS III satellites are in the component assembly phase. Notably, the fifth satellite has already integrated its navigation payload and is anticipated to reach full assembly later this summer. Thus far, over 90% of the required components and materials for all ten satellites under contract have been secured.
In April, Lockheed Martin submitted a proposal to construct up to 22 additional GPS III Follow On (GPS IIIF) satellites, promising even more enhanced capabilities for the expansive GPS ecosystem serving over four billion users globally.
