Recent testing of Lockheed Martin’s Global Positioning System III protype concluded the satellite can communicate with the existing GPS constellation already in orbit, announced company officials. The testing of the GPS III nonflight satellite testbed—a full-sized, functioning prototype—concluded Oct. 17 at Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla. It demonstrated the ability of an Air Force receiver to track navigation signals transmitted by the next generation satellite, states the Nov. 21 release. “These tests represent the first time . . . the GNST’s flight-like hardware has communicated with flight-like hardware from the rest of the GPS constellation and with a navigation receiver,” explained Paul Miller, Lockheed Martin’s director for GPS III Development. “This provides early confidence in the GPS III’s design to bring advanced capabilities to our nation, while also being backward-compatible.” The GPS III will provide three times better accuracy; up to eight times greater anti-jamming capabilities; and extended life expectancy of 25 percent, states the release. The Air Force is expected to receive the first GPS III in 2014 for a 2015 launch. (See also First Launch-Readiness Exercise for GPS III Satellite)
2026 NDAA: 5 Highlights for Airmen and Guardians
Dec. 18, 2025
President Donald Trump signed the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act on Dec. 18, a day after Congress passed the annual defense policy bill for the 65th consecutive year. Here’s what it means for the Air Force and Space Force.
