LM-led team to provide GPS IIIA satellites

DENVER, May 19 (UPI) -- The U.S. Air Force has contracted a Lockheed Martin-led team to support the next-generation Global Positioning System Space System program.

The announced contract is with the Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co.-led team, which includes ITT Corp. and General Dynamics. Under the deal, the Lockheed Martin team will produce eight GPS IIIA satellites for the Air Force program, which is an effort to provide reliable and enhanced positioning information and communications to war fighters and others around the world.

Officials say the GPS IIIA satellites, expected for launch by 2014, are an initiative to allow the entire Air Force GPS system to be updated simultaneously from a single ground station with increased security and resistance to hostile jamming.

"Lockheed Martin is proud to serve as the U.S. Air Force's partner on this critical national program," Joanne Maguire, Lockheed Martin Space Systems executive vice president, said in a statement.

"Our low-risk, back-to-basics solution is based on the team's outstanding record of success in developing and evolving navigation satellites, and we look forward to building a next-generation system that will deliver enhanced performance for military and civilian users around the globe."