Pentagon Cancels Troubled GPS Control System After 16 Years
Pentagon pulls the plug on one of the military's most troubled space programs
Ars Technica
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The Pentagon has officially canceled the Global Positioning System Next-Generation Operational Control System (OCX) due to insurmountable problems after 16 years and nearly $8 billion in costs. The decision affects the military's GPS satellite navigation network and follows extensive testing that revealed ongoing issues with the system.
- 01The OCX program was canceled after 16 years and nearly $8 billion in costs.
- 02Initial completion was expected in 2016, but the timeline extended by a decade.
- 03The system was meant to control the latest GPS III satellites launched since 2018.
- 04Extensive testing revealed significant issues that could jeopardize GPS capabilities.
- 05RTX Corporation, the contractor, has expressed commitment to support future efforts.
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The Pentagon announced the cancellation of the Global Positioning System Next-Generation Operational Control System (OCX) due to persistent issues that proved insurmountable. Officially terminated on April 17, the OCX program was initiated in 2010 with a budget of $3.7 billion, but costs ballooned to nearly $8 billion over 16 years. The system was designed to manage signals from the latest GPS III satellites, which began launching in 2018. Despite RTX Corporation (formerly Raytheon) delivering the control system last year, further testing revealed it was not operationally ready. Colonel Stephen Hobbs, commander of the Space Force’s Mission Delta 31, stated that extensive system issues arose during testing, putting both military and civilian GPS capabilities at risk. RTX acknowledged the government's decision and expressed its commitment to supporting future initiatives.
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The cancellation of the OCX program may delay advancements in GPS technology, affecting military operations and civilian applications reliant on GPS navigation.
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