Symmetricom Inc. received a contract to develop next-generation atomic clocks that could be used on the U.S. Air Force‘s GPS 3 constellation, the company announced June 28.

Under the $3.9 million Advanced Technology Atomic Frequency Standard Program contract, Symmetricom will develop high-performance atomic clocks based on the company’s proprietary optically-pumped cesium beam technology.

Cesium atomic clocks are used in government time-keeping, communications and satellite applications, as well as aerospace and telecommunications networks. Symmetricom provided the cesium atomic clocks used in the current GPS constellation.

The contract was awarded by the Space and Missile System Center at Los Angeles Air Force Base.