GPS III SV02 ready for launch
Lockheed Martin’s second GPS III satellite (GPS III SV02) built for the US Air Force is complete, fully tested and ready to launch, the company announced on 21 August.
The air force’s ‘available for launch’ declaration is the final acceptance of GPS III SV02 – declaring it technically sound and ready to launch.
GPS III SV02 will bring new capabilities to US and allied military forces. It will have three times better accuracy and up to eight times improved anti-jamming capabilities. GPS III's new L1C civil signal will also make it interoperable with other international global navigation satellite systems.
Lockheed Martin is now in full production on ten GPS III satellites. Close behind GPS III SV04 on the production line, the fifth, sixth and seventh GPS III satellites are in component build-up. The air force officially called up its first GPS III satellite for launch in June.
More from Digital Battlespace
-
British Army’s ISR commander warns of new challenges facing defence forces
The race between using ISR and resisting the use of it by enemies has accelerated, leading to new methods and systems being required, according to the British Army’s lead on its ISR efforts.
-
Push for greater use of open source data, says senior British officer
The huge amount of open source data available may not carry the weight of secret sources but it does carry substantial value, according to speakers at Defence IQ C4ISR Global conference in London.
-
Jacobs wins MoD cyber-security support contract
The deal with Jacobs will run until November 2027 and will see the company deliver a range of digital and IT specialist professional services to Defence Digital.
-
Orbit upgrades two multi-purpose terminals and carries out land testing
The communications company has upgraded two of its Beyond Line-of-Sight Multi-Purpose Terminals (MBTs) by introducing advancements in satellite communication technology and AI-driven maintenance capabilities.
-
Norway to receive maritime surveillance satellite data from Kongsberg
Norway's Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace has announced that its subsidiary Kongsberg NanoAvionics will produce three satellites and launch them in 2025.
-
First South Korean 425 Project observation satellite launched
In 2015, South Korea named a consortium of Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and Hanwha Systems, along with Thales Alenia Space providing the SAR payload derived from its HE-R1000 product, as preferred bidder to develop new Korea 425 Project reconnaissance satellites.