Raytheon and Lockheed Martin Complete Integration Milestone on Upgrade of Global Positioning System

AURORA, Colo. and NEWTOWN, Pa., April 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) and Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) successfully completed the first significant integration milestone between Raytheon's Global Positioning System (GPS) Next Generation Operational Control System (OCX) and Lockheed Martin's GPS III satellite system.

The joint Lockheed Martin/Raytheon team successfully exchanged satellite commands and telemetry data between the GPS III satellite simulator in Newtown, Pa., and the OCX development site in Aurora, Colo. The integration of the two sites will facilitate development testing of the OCX system and allow early risk reduction testing of the ground-satellite interface in a test-like-you-fly configuration.

"The successful test of GPS OCX, with our teammates at Lockheed Martin, is a testament to the solid engineering and design for both GPS OCX and GPS III," stated Ray Kolibaba, Raytheon's GPS OCX program manager. "Working together, we are well on our way to launching the first GPS III satellite in 2014."

The GPS III program will affordably replace aging GPS satellites while improving capability to meet the evolving needs of military, commercial and civilian users worldwide.

"The first connectivity between the modernized space and control segments is a major milestone for the entire GPS enterprise," said Keoki Jackson, vice president of Lockheed Martin's Navigation Systems mission area. "This achievement demonstrates the close partnership and carefully planned synchronization that will enable mission success for GPS III and OCX in the years to come."

GPS Sustainment and Modernization 

In 2000, the U.S. Congress authorized a GPS enterprise modernization project, commonly known as GPS III, to maintain and upgrade existing GPS capabilities. The project involves new, more capable satellites and a flexible, secure control system that together will provide new civil and military navigation signals for both civilian and military users, and will improve accuracy, availability and resistance to jamming.

About Lockheed Martin

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs about 123,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation's net sales for 2011 were $46.5 billion.

About Raytheon

Raytheon Company, with 2011 sales of $25 billion, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 90 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission support services. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 71,000 people worldwide. For more about Raytheon, visit us at www.raytheon.com and follow us on Twitter at @raytheon.

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SOURCE Raytheon Company