Matthew Nelson
L3Harris Technologies has handed over to Lockheed Martin a navigation payload for integration with a GPS III satellite the latter company is building for the U.S. Air Force. The payload is designed to increase the satellite’s lifespan and frequency jamming defenses and employs a mission data unit that works to connect radiation-hardened processors, transmitters and atomic clocks, L3Harris said Wednesday.
L3Harris noted it has installed payloads on three GPS III satellites that are undergoing production and testing stages at Lockheed. The Air Force launched its first GPS III satellite in December 2018, three months after the service branch awarded Lockheed a contract to build up to 22 GPS IIIF satellites.
According to L3Harris, it will equip the first two GPS IIIFs with navigation technology under a $243M contract awarded earlier this year.
