Lockheed Martin has received 16 self-deploying, monopole JIB antennas from Astro Aerospace for the first two next-generation global positioning system (GPS III) satellites.
The GPS is a constellation of 24 satellites maintained on-orbit to provide navigational information to the US Air Force (USAF).
Astro Aerospace general manager John Alvarez said the GPS constellation is a key US asset used by millions around the globe every day.
“GPS III will improve position, navigation and timing services and provide advanced anti-jam capabilities yielding superior system security, accuracy and reliability,” he added.
An industry team led by Lockheed Martin is under contract to develop the GPS III satellites, the first of which is scheduled to join the on-orbit constellation in 2014.
Northrop Grumman business unit Astro Aerospace has delivered more than 1,000 JIB assemblies for the previous GPS IIF and GPS IIR spacecraft configurations.
