Lockheed Martin and ITT are teaming to vie to build USAF’s next generation Global Positioning System Block III satellite, according to a Lockheed press release. As in their previous partnership on the GPS Block IIR and IIR-M series, Lockheed will be the prime contractor and spacecraft integrator, while ITT will provide the navigation payloads. Air Force Space Command’s Space and Missile System Center expects to award the multi-billion contract next year.
The Air Force has finished modifying and testing the new VC-25B Bridge aircraft that will serve as a temporary Air Force One, the service announced May 1. All that’s left now is to finish painting the jet before it starts flying this summer.