Raytheon Awarded Next-Generation Control Segment Contract (OCX)

The next-generation GPS ground-control system, known as OCX.

Officials from the Space and Missile Systems Center’s Global Positioning Systems Wing announced today the award of the Next-Generation GPS Control Segment (OCX) contract to Raytheon Company, Intelligence and Information Systems, Aurora, Colorado.

The OCX development contract will be 73 months in duration and with option years for sustainment worth $1,535,147,916. The contract will include development and installation of hardware and software at GPS control stations at Schriever Air Force Base in Colorado and Vandenberg AFB in California, deployment of advanced monitor stations at remote sites, and initial contractor support with sustainment options for five years.

Defense PNT Editor Don Jewell provides commentary and additional information on the  award.

OCX will replace the current GPS Operational Control System, maintaining backwards compatibility with the Block IIR and IIR-M constellation, providing command and control of the new GPS IIF and GPS III families of satellites, and enabling new modernized signal capabilities.

“OCX is urgently needed not only to enable new warfighter capabilities but also to put the new GPS III space vehicles into mission operations,” said Col. Dave Madden, commander, GPSW. “OCX will have a flexible architecture that can rapidly adapt to the changing needs of today’s warfighter and will connect to the Global Information Grid so that warfighters around the globe have immediate access to GPS data and constellation status.”

“OCX will allow AFSPC to effectively and efficiently plan and control full-spectrum precision position, navigation and timing information for all GPS user communities,” Madden said. “OCX will achieve this vision by implementing an incremental development approach that supports the evolving military operational environment, while enabling civil and international users who are employing GPS in innovative applications like transportation.”

The Air Force Space Command’s Space and Missile Systems Center, located at Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, is the U.S. Air Force’s center of acquisition excellence for acquiring and developing military space systems including six wings and three groups responsible for GPS, military satellite communications, defense meteorological satellites, space launch and range systems, satellite control network, space-based infrared systems, intercontinental ballistic missile systems, and space situational awareness capabilities.