Both Boeing and Lockheed Martin have completed the necessary work to proceed on the Global Positioning System Block III program. Air Force Space Command’s Space and Missile Systems Center has awarded $50 million contracts to both companies, headed toward system design review in spring 2007. SMC officials expect to award a development contract for GPS III later this year. Meanwhile, the Air Force reportedly is considering whether to engage an independent contractor to serve as program integrator.
Air Force depots are not typically meant for quick repair jobs, but during Operation Epic Fury, the service moved some of its stateside heavy maintenance capability forward to fix battle-damaged aircraft closer to the fight.
