Lockheed, EADS, Join Forces On GPA-Galileo Interoperability

Lockheed Martin Corp. [LMT] and European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. (EADS) will work together to ensure interoperability of the E.U. and U.S. global positioning satellite-based systems, Lockheed and EADS announced.

The United States military long ago placed in orbit the Global Positioning System satellites which are being updated to GPS III, and now Europe is moving to establish the European Galileo Satellite Navigation program.

The companies will perform systems engineering and technical assistance tasks for each other in the areas of interoperability, integrity and optimisation of joint satellite constellation performance, the firms announced.

They also will offer reciprocal bids on operational hardware and software within the policy and export constraints of both programs.

“This opens a new dimension of cooperation between two of the world’s leading technology companies in systems that will benefit consumers for decades as the Galileo and GPS III systems come on line,” said Reinhold Lutz, EADS senior vice president for Earth observation, navigation and science.

“We look forward to making our 30 years of GPS experience available to the Galileo program to maximize performance and utility for all users of satellite navigation when both Galileo and GPS III are in operation,” said Marshall Keith, Lockheed Martin Integrated Systems & Solutions vice president for international programs.