Pentagon pulls the plug on one of the military's most troubled space programs
Summary
The Pentagon has canceled the Global Positioning System Next-Generation Operational Control System (OCX), a troubled military program designed to control GPS satellites. The program had delays and cost overruns, and the delivered system was not ready for full operation, so the Space Force will improve the existing GPS control system instead.Key Facts
- The OCX program aimed to create a new control system for the US military’s GPS satellite network.
- It began in 2010 with a planned completion in 2016 and a budget of $3.7 billion, but costs grew to nearly $8 billion.
- The program took 16 years and faced many technical problems.
- RTX Corporation (formerly Raytheon) developed the system and delivered it in 2025, but it still had major issues.
- The Space Force found that continuing OCX was not the best way to protect and improve GPS capabilities.
- The GPS network will now rely on upgrades to the existing, older control system.
- These upgrades will support new GPS signals like the military-grade M-code, which helps protect against jamming and spoofing.
- Lockheed Martin recently received a contract to help upgrade the current ground control system.
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