Global Positioning System III

The Global Positioning System III (GPS III) is a Major Defense Acquisition Program (MDAP) managed under the Major Capability Acquisition pathway with an Acquisition Category IC designation. The program encompasses the development, procurement, and deployment of next-generation GPS satellites and associated ground control systems to provide enhanced positioning, navigation, and timing capabilities for military and civilian users. As a cornerstone Department of Defense space program, GPS III represents a significant modernization of the GPS constellation with improved accuracy, anti-jamming capabilities, and system security.

Contract awards under the GPS III program range from small purchases of individual GPS units ($5,000-$25,000) to major system development and integration efforts exceeding $280 million. Primary contractors include Lockheed Martin Services, BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration, Raytheon Systems Limited, and Aerovironment Inc. Notable procurements include Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Modules (SAASM), antenna systems, GPS control segment components, and unmanned aerial systems with GPS capabilities. The Department of the Air Force Space Command, Naval Air Systems Command, and Army Aviation Program Executive Office serve as the primary contracting activities. Most contracts are firm-fixed-price without set-aside designations, though some small business and 8(a) awards exist. Major work is performed in El Segundo, California; Greenlawn, New York; and Simi Valley, California, with additional sites across the United States and limited international locations.