Harris Delivers Navigation Payload for Third GPS 3 Satellite
Harris Corporation has delivered the third of 10 advanced navigation payloads to Lockheed Martin, which will help increase accuracy, signal power and jamming resistance for U.S. Air Force GPS 3 satellites. The payloads feature a Mission Data Unit (MDU) with a 70 percent digital design that links atomic clocks, radiation-hardened computers and transmitters — enabling signals three times more accurate than those on current GPS satellites, according to Lockheed Martin. The new payloads also boost satellite signal power, increase jamming resistance eight-fold and help extend the satellite’s lifespan.
Lockheed Martin expects to integrate the payload into GPS 3 Space Vehicle 3 (GPS 3 SV03) this summer. In May, Lockheed Martin integrated Harris’ second GPS 3 payload into GPS 3 SV02. The first navigation payload is already integrated aboard GPS 3 SV01, which has now completed rigorous testing and is in storage awaiting its expected 2018 launch.
Harris is also developing a fully digital MDU for the U.S. Air Force’s GPS 3 Space Vehicles 11+ acquisition. The company will demonstrate the new MDU this fall, which provides even greater flexibility, affordability and accuracy versus existing GPS satellites.