By BlueShift | 2024-12-24

The US Space Force last month announced a contract extension for the Global Positioning System (GPS) Next Generation Operational Control System (OCX), a critical upgrade to GPS infrastructure.

The service announced on November 27 it had awarded Raytheon a nearly $196.7 million contract extension for OCX, which promises to modernize satellite command and control systems and is slated to be installed at 17 ground control stations worldwide.

Despite setbacks putting the program about seven years behind schedule, OCX is central to the future of GPS.

Current GPS infrastructure comprises land- and space-based components.

GPS satellites are in medium-earth orbit and transmit radio signals that provide users with navigation, time and positional data. Ground-based stations track, monitor and update the satellites.

OCX aims to provide a much-needed upgrade to GPS ground control infrastructure and enhance cybersecurity and navigation signal applications.

GPS cybersecurity ensures that essential navigation across land, sea and air remains uninterrupted.

If unsecured, GPS is left vulnerable to cyberattacks like jamming and spoofing, which could severely disrupt critical infrastructure, transportation, communications and the provision of emergency services.

The consequences of a successful cyber attack could extend across multiple industries. It could interrupt commerce by misdirecting vehicles and jumbling location information or even impact national security by compromising military and law enforcement operations that rely on highly precise location data.

Central to modernization efforts will be OCX's ability to manage the M-Code signal, a jam-resistant signal network applied to military-transmitted GPS signals.

M-Code secures location data against interference and provides critical support for military operations.

OCX requires an overhaul of the existing code, building a new system from the ground up to integrate cutting-edge cybersecurity.

Once implemented, it will have oversight of all modernized and legacy GPS satellites that manage GPS signals across the civilian and military domains.

The program will also have oversight over all GPS III satellites -- the newest generation of satellites that offer threefold-greater location accuracy and enhanced anti-jamming capabilities.

The contract extension provided to Raytheon calls for work on OCX to be completed by November 2025. it will be overseen by Space Systems Command, a US Space Force field command.

"OCX will command all modernized and legacy GPS satellites, manage all civil and military navigation signals, and provide improved cybersecurity and resilience for the next generation of GPS operations," Space Systems Command said.