On March 23, the U.S. Space Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center successfully transferred the second Global Positioning System III space vehicle (GPS III SV02) to Space Operations Command. 

GPS III SV02 was launched on August 22, 2019, aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Medium+ launch vehicle from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. GPS III satellites deliver positioning, navigation and timing information with three times better accuracy, and up to eight times improved anti-jamming capability than its predecessor. This is crucial for the warfighter, who will benefit from the increased power, accuracy and protections provided by the newer GPS III systems.

The GPS III SV02 satellite is part of the U.S. Air Force’s next generation of GPS satellites, shown here undergoing acoustic testing. Photo is courtesy of Lockheed Martin.

The GPS III spacecraft has a 15-year design life - 25 percent longer than the last generation of GPS satellites currently on-orbit. Additionally, it delivers new capabilities, such as a fourth civilian signal (L1C), designed to enable interoperability between GPS and international satellite navigation systems, such as Galileo.

GPS III satellites will also bring the full capability of the Military Code (M-Code) signal, increasing anti-jam resiliency in support of the warfighter. These continued improvements and advancements to the GPS system make it the premier space-based provider of positioning, navigation, and timing services for more than four billion users around the globe.

Col. Edward Byrne, chief of Production Corps’ Medium Earth Orbit Space Systems Division, said this marks the second transfer of Satellite Control Authority for the GPS III program as the modernization of the GPS constellation continues, with more capable and resilient systems. It’s only through the hard work, professionalism and dedication of the entire government and industry partner team that enabled the successfully transition of GPS III SV02 to operations.