The US Air Force has chosen defense corporation Lockheed Martin to build 22 next-generation Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites, worth $7.2 bln, as part of a modernization program for the system.
"The world is dependent on GPS, from getting directions to getting cash from an ATM machine or trading on the stock exchange…These satellites will provide greater accuracy, and improved anti-jamming capabilities making them more resilient," Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson stated.
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According to Lockheed Martin, the GPS III satellites will be three times more accurate than the current ones and will also have improved anti-jamming capabilities. The first 10 satellites, built under the 2008 contract, are scheduled to be in orbit by 2023, while the new ones are to be available for launch in 2026.