Boeing

The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today submitted its proposal to the U.S. Air Force for the development and production of up to 12 Global Positioning System (GPS) III satellites. The enhanced spacecraft will offer positioning service that is 10 times better than today's system as well as improved anti-jamming capabilities for the warfighter.

"Boeing's GPS III offering builds on our proven 34-year GPS partnership with the U.S. Air Force," said Howard Chambers, vice president and general manager of Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems. "Our best value offer brings together the best of Boeing's space-based navigation and communications capabilities, including our integrated GPS space and control segment experience, to deliver a low-risk, high-value program to the U.S. Air Force."

Working with the U.S. Air Force for more than two years on risk reduction demonstrations and detailed plans, Boeing completed a successful System Design Review for the next-generation GPS satellite constellation earlier this year. Boeing also validated the technology readiness of its low risk, heritage-based flexible payload architecture to meet future GPS III performance requirements in an end-to-end demonstration in July.

Boeing will continue its current GPS III system definition and risk reduction contract effort in parallel with the Air Force's source selection process to preserve continuity and ensure the program launches the first constellation in mid-2013, as scheduled.