Team Gearing Up for Mid-September Launch from the Cape
FARNBOROUGH, England, July 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Lockheed Martin
(NYSE: LMT) announced today that it has completed the fifth in a series of
eight modernized Global Positioning System (GPS) IIR satellites that the
company is developing for the U.S. Air Force. The spacecraft are the most
technologically advanced GPS satellites ever developed and will provide
significantly improved navigation performance for U.S. military and
civilian users worldwide.
The modernized program, known as GPS IIR-M, is being performed at
Lockheed Martin's facilities in Valley Forge, Pa., and ITT Industries in
Clifton, N.J. The spacecraft offer a variety of enhanced features for GPS
users, such as two new signals and enhanced encryption and anti-jamming
capabilities for the military, as well as a second civil signal, thus
providing military and civilian users with greatly improved navigation
capabilities.
"We're proud to have completed work on the fifth GPS IIR-M spacecraft,"
said Don DeGryse, Lockheed Martin's vice president of Navigation Systems.
"The success of this modernization program is direct testimony to the
strong partnership forged between Lockheed Martin and the Air Force to
tackle the important objective of providing state-of-the-art navigation
services for the U.S. military and civilian users across the globe."
Completed satellites are delivered to storage and become available for
launch when requested by the Air Force. The team is now preparing for the
second IIR-M mission scheduled for launch on Sept. 14, 2006 from Cape
Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. Designated GPS IIR-15(M) the satellite
will join the first modernized IIR satellite declared operational for GPS
users last year and 12 other operational Block IIR satellites currently on-
orbit within the overall 29-spacecraft constellation.
GPS provides such essential services as situational awareness and
precision weapon guidance for the military. It is also an information
resource supporting a wide range of civil, scientific and commercial
functions -- from air traffic control to the Internet -- with precision
location and timing information.
Air Force Space Command's 2nd Space Operations Squadron (2SOPS), based
at Schriever Air Force Base, Colo., manages and operates the GPS
constellation for both civil and military users.
Lockheed Martin is also leading a team competing to build the next-
generation Global Positioning System, known as GPS Block III. The new
program will address the challenging military transformational and civil
needs across the globe, including advanced anti-jam capabilities, improved
system security and accuracy, and reliability. GPS Block III will enhance
space-based navigation and performance and set a new world standard for
positioning and timing services.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 135,000
people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design,
development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced
technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2005
sales of $37.2 billion
Media Contact: Steve Tatum, 408-742-7531; e-mail,
Stephen.o.tatum@lmco.com
SOURCE Lockheed Martin
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Related links:
http://www.lockheedmartin.com/
CONTACT:
Steve Tatum of Lockheed Martin,
+1-408-742-7531 or Stephen.o.tatum@lmco.com
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