The U.S. Space Force awarded Lockheed Martin Space a $1.2 billion GPS III Satellite Sustainment contract in February 2026, extending the company's role in operating and maintaining the GPS III constellation of positioning, navigation, and timing satellites. The award covers through fiscal year 2031 with options, per the DoD daily contracts announcement.
What the sustainment contract covers
- On-orbit anomaly detection and resolution for the ten operational GPS III satellites
- Integration with the GPS Next Generation Operational Control System (OCX) ground segment
- Navigation payload performance monitoring and signal authentication updates
- Engineering support for the GPS III Follow-On (GPS IIIF) satellite program
Downstream opportunity for small firms
Space Force satellite sustainment contracts have historically supported strong small-business supply chains in precision timing components, RF engineering, and ground station software. Lockheed's GPS program office maintains a supplier diversity program.
- Target capability areas: atomic clock calibration, signal integrity testing, secure ground system software
- GPS III Follow-On (IIIF) production is running concurrently — additional sustainment task orders are expected as IIIF satellites enter service from 2026 onward