The US Space Force has confirmed an order signed by the US Air Force under an overarching multisatellite agreement for three new GPS 3F spacecraft for the US military/civil navigation satellite constellation. The contract awarded to Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of the LM1300 bus/platform-based spacecraft is US$737 million. The original GPS IIIF overall agreement was signed in 2018 was for development costs for up to 22 satellites worth US$7.2 billion. The first of these 22 “options” was converted to an order worth US$1.2 billion for two spacecraft GPS IIIF-1 (SV11) and GPS IIIF-2 (SV12).This was added to by a two spacecraft order in October 2020 for two more – GPS IIIF-3 (SV13) and GPS IIIF-4 (SV14). This new order is for space vehicles GPS IIIF-5, -6 and -8 (SV15, 16 and 17) respectively. It is noted by commentators that the unit price of the spacecraft appears to be coming down.
Artists impression of GPS IIIF spacecraft. Courtesy: Lockheed Martin
