Officials from Air Force Space Command's Space and Missile Systems Center announced the delivery of the second in the series of twelve GPS IIF space vehicles to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., April 20. GPS IIF SV-2 is expected to be launched aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta IV rocket later this summer.

Built by Boeing, the first GPS IIF was set healthy to navigation and timing users worldwide, Aug.26, 2010. To-date, the satellite is performing its navigation mission well and its atomic clock's performance is the best seen on-orbit.

The GPS IIF satellites provide enhanced military signals that are more resistant to jamming, greater accuracy through advanced atomic clock technology, a new third civil signal for safety-of-life applications and a longer design life of 12 years.

GPS technology supports both military and civil users. GPS has become the mainstay of transportation systems worldwide, providing navigation in countless applications for aviation, ground and maritime operations around the world.

The GPS constellation is the strongest it's ever been with 31 satellites currently on-orbit. The addition of the first IIF SV and the on-track production of the GPS IIIA SVs demonstrate the Air Force's commitment to maintaining GPS as the gold standard for positioning, navigation and timing information.

The U.S Air Force and Air Force Space Command have been the diligent stewards of GPS since its conception in the 1970s and continue its commitment to this critical component of our national infrastructure.

The current GPS constellation has the most satellites operating on-orbit and largest capability. SMC's Global Positioning Systems Directorate is committed to maintaining the current level of service, as well as striving to improve service and capability through on-going modernization efforts.