The Air Force and its industry partners successfully launched a modernized Global Positioning System Block IIR satellite built by Lockheed Martin into space March 15 from Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla., the company announced. The satellite, designated GPS IIR-19M, is the sixth of eight modernized GPS IIR satellites that Lockheed Martin has built and subsequently upgraded to provide increased signal power for users, along with greater accuracy and resistance to jamming. The mission was the third consecutive successful launch of a GPS IIR-M satellite in less than five months, according to Lockheed Martin. The remaining two Block IIR-M satellites are also scheduled to go into orbit this year.
The Pentagon has concluded a new agreement to buy laser-guidance kits that turn rockets into drone-killing weapons. BAE Systems and the Defense Department announced a framework deal of up to seven years for 25,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System guidance kits annually for the U.S. military.