Tesat SCOT80 optical communication terminals. Photo: Tesat

Tesat has delivered optical communications terminals to Lockheed Martin to be used on future GPS satellites. Tesat said Monday it completed delivery of its SCOT80 terminals to Lockheed Martin. 

Tesat previously announced the award from Lockheed Martin in December 2024 after passing a critical design review, to supply OCTs for a future GPS III satellite. 

The SCOT80 is an 80mm aperture OCT designed to support data rates of up to 100 Gbps. It is compatible with Space Development Agency’s (SDA’s) OCT Standard 3.1, and has a path for compatibility to updated standards such as Standard 4.0. 

“The SCOT80 OCT demonstration is an important step towards expanding the capabilities of future GPS satellites,” said TESAT Government’s Managing Director, Justin Luczyk. “These optical cross-links will enable future GPS satellites to be even more useful to the warfighter.”

Lockheed Martin has built 10 Next Generation GPS III satellites for the U.S. Space Force, eight of which have already launched, with the most recent GPS III launch in May. Lockheed is also building up to 22 GPS III Follow On satellites with more advanced capabilities.

Tesat said that 62 of these OCTs are currently in orbit on multiple prime contractors’ satellites. Tesat supplied OCTs used by both SpaceX and York Space Systems on the Tranche 0 SDA spacecraft that demonstrated the first link between different prime contractor’s satellites in the SDA constellation.