GPS Next-Generation Control Squadron Completes System Requirements Reviews

  • Published
  • By Jim Bullard
  • SMC/GPS

The GPS Next-Generation Control Segment (OCX) Squadron recently completed two System Requirements Reviews (SRR) with contractors Northrop Grumman Mission Systems and Raytheon Space Systems. Both contractors are under identical $160 million contracts administered by the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif., for Phase A of the GPS OCX program. 

Raytheon conducted its SRR with the OCX program team in February, followed by Northrop Grumman's SRR in April. Both industry teams successfully demonstrated their full understanding of the requirements of the OCX program. 

During this phase, each contractor must successfully complete a System Requirements Review, Integrated Baseline Review, System Design Review and demonstrate their Modernized Capability Engineering Models (MCEM). The MCEM showcases design and production processes planned for future OCX block deliveries. 

The OCX architecture will advance the capabilities of current GPS technology by adding capabilities in Effects-Based Operations (EBO), Navigational Warfare (NAVWAR) and demonstrating Net-Centricity by integrating with the Global Information Grid (GIG). Each contributes a major advantage to the warfighter. In addition, OCX supports added functionality to civilian users of GPS technology. 

Down-select to a single OCX provider for the $2.7B effort is scheduled for May 2009.