Raytheon has been awarded a $27.4 million contract by the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center for development of a Global Positioning System (GPS) Launch and Checkout System (LCS), which will provide early launch and checkout of GPS III satellites starting with the first GPS III launch in 2014.

Raytheon was awarded the prime contract to develop the GPS Next Generation Operational Control System (OCX) in February 2010, with a scheduled delivery date of 2015. The LCS solution enables GPS III satellites to launch on schedule and conduct on-orbit checkout prior to the full GPS OCX delivery in 2015.

"The delivery of this early OCX-based solution will provide invaluable opportunities for risk reduction on both the GPS III satellite program and GPS OCX development and deployment," said Ray Kolibaba, GPS OCX program manager for Raytheon's Intelligence and Information Systems business.

"LCS will provide for the early identification and mitigation of any GPS III enterprise risks, support ground checkout and launch operations and resolve any anomalies prior to the first GPS III satellite launch."

In 2000, Congress authorized a GPS enterprise modernization project, commonly known as GPS III, to maintain and upgrade existing GPS capabilities.

The project involves new, more capable satellites and a flexible, secure control system that together will provide new civil and military navigation signals for both civilian and military users, and will improve accuracy, availability and resistance to intentional jamming.

Lockheed Martin was awarded the GPS III Space Segment contract on May 15, 2008, and Raytheon was awarded the Next Generation GPS Operational Control System (OCX) contract on Feb. 25, 2010.