Northrop Grumman has won a study contract to upgrade the US Air Force's (USAF) global positioning system (GPS), which has offered global position, navigation and timing services globally for over 20 years.
The Air Force Space Command offered the 26-month contract which is based on the company's proposal for the next-generation GPS III programme.
Northrop won the contract after the USAF invited bids to develop new generation of GPS space vehicles that will deliver the advanced capabilities required by military and civil users, while countering the future threat environment.
Northrop Grumman aerospace systems communications systems vice-president Tim Frei stated, "Delivering advanced capabilities needed by military and civil users, while countering the future threat environment is an incredibly important mission, and we believe our producible and resilient payload prototype meets these requirements. We look forward to working closely with the Air Force to bring this capability to the warfighter."
The USAF has planned to offer up to three $5m study contracts in total during Q3-2016. It would start a competition for 22 spacecraft in 2018.
The Air Force Space Command offered the 26-month contract which is based on the company's proposal for the next-generation GPS III programme.
Northrop won the contract after the USAF invited bids to develop new generation of GPS space vehicles that will deliver the advanced capabilities required by military and civil users, while countering the future threat environment.
Northrop Grumman aerospace systems communications systems vice-president Tim Frei stated, "Delivering advanced capabilities needed by military and civil users, while countering the future threat environment is an incredibly important mission, and we believe our producible and resilient payload prototype meets these requirements. We look forward to working closely with the Air Force to bring this capability to the warfighter."
The USAF has planned to offer up to three $5m study contracts in total during Q3-2016. It would start a competition for 22 spacecraft in 2018.