Lockheed Martin announced on Sept. 10, 2026, that it has secured two task orders from the U.S. Space Force totaling $114 million to upgrade the Global Positioning System’s ground infrastructure. The contracts support modernization efforts under the GPS Control Segment Sustainment program, focusing on contingency operations and hardware refreshes for next-generation satellite control.
What it means
The awards advance the deployment of the GPS IIIF constellation by enhancing the ground systems required to manage these spacecraft. One task order, valued at $96 million, funds the GPS IIIF Contingency Operations System, which provides control capabilities for the new satellites. The second order, worth $17.5 million, supports Phase 1 of the Architecture Evolution Plan (AEP) x86, initiating a three-phase technology refresh of ground hardware and software.
These upgrades are designed to strengthen signal resilience and anti-jamming protections for military users while maintaining precise positioning, navigation, and timing services for civilian sectors such as transportation, finance, telecommunications, and utility management. The work complements Lockheed Martin’s ongoing manufacturing of GPS IIIF satellites, which the company states offer 63 times greater resiliency than legacy models. This follows a $105 million contract awarded in April for launch and early-orbit support services. As part of broader defense modernization efforts, these ground segment improvements align with other recent awards, such as the Army’s production contracts for high-energy laser systems and advancements in interceptor technology.
Key facts
- Total contract value: $114 million
- First task order (Contingency Operations System): $96 million
- Second task order (AEP x86 Phase 1): $17.5 million
- Previous April contract for launch support: $105 million
- GPS IIIF resiliency improvement: 63 times greater than legacy satellites
- Program structure: Three-phase technology refresh under AEP x86
- Civilian sectors served: Transportation, finance, telecommunications, utility management
- Announcement date: Sept. 10, 2026
Source: Lockheed Martin news release