Recent from talks
GPS Block IIIF
Knowledge base stats:
Talk channels stats:
Members stats:
GPS Block IIIF
GPS Block IIIF, or GPS III Follow On, is the second set of GPS Block III satellites, consisting of up to 22 space vehicles. The United States Air Force began the GPS Block IIIF acquisition effort in 2016. On 14 September 2018, a manufacturing contract with options worth up to $7.2 billion was awarded to Lockheed Martin. The 22 satellites in Block IIIF are projected to start launching in 2027, with launches estimated to last through at least 2037.
Engineering efforts for Block IIIF satellites began upon contract award in 2016—a full 16 years after the government approved entry into the initial modernization efforts for GPS III in 2000. As a result, GPS Block IIIF introduces a number of improvements and novel capabilities compared to all previous GPS satellite blocks.
Block IIIF satellites host a redesigned U.S. Nuclear Detonation Detection System (USNDS) capability that is both smaller and lighter than previous systems.
The USNDS is a worldwide system of space-based sensors and ground processing equipment designed to detect, identify, locate, characterize, and report nuclear detonations in the Earth's atmosphere and in space.
GPS IIIF satellites are the first to feature a 100% digital navigation payload.
The fully-digital navigation payload introduced by Block IIIF (SV11+) produces improved accuracy, better reliability, and stronger signals compared to the 70% digital navigation payload used by GPS Block III (SV01-SV10).
GPS IIIF-03 and beyond (GPS III SV13+) will incorporate the Lockheed Martin LM2100 Combat Bus, an improvement on the A2100M bus used in GPS III SV01 through SV12. The LM2100 Combat Bus provides improved resilience to cyber attacks, as well as improved spacecraft power, propulsion, and electronics.
GPS IIIF satellites will be the first GPS satellites to host an Energetic Charged Particle (ECP) sensor payload.
Hub AI
GPS Block IIIF AI simulator
(@GPS Block IIIF_simulator)
GPS Block IIIF
GPS Block IIIF, or GPS III Follow On, is the second set of GPS Block III satellites, consisting of up to 22 space vehicles. The United States Air Force began the GPS Block IIIF acquisition effort in 2016. On 14 September 2018, a manufacturing contract with options worth up to $7.2 billion was awarded to Lockheed Martin. The 22 satellites in Block IIIF are projected to start launching in 2027, with launches estimated to last through at least 2037.
Engineering efforts for Block IIIF satellites began upon contract award in 2016—a full 16 years after the government approved entry into the initial modernization efforts for GPS III in 2000. As a result, GPS Block IIIF introduces a number of improvements and novel capabilities compared to all previous GPS satellite blocks.
Block IIIF satellites host a redesigned U.S. Nuclear Detonation Detection System (USNDS) capability that is both smaller and lighter than previous systems.
The USNDS is a worldwide system of space-based sensors and ground processing equipment designed to detect, identify, locate, characterize, and report nuclear detonations in the Earth's atmosphere and in space.
GPS IIIF satellites are the first to feature a 100% digital navigation payload.
The fully-digital navigation payload introduced by Block IIIF (SV11+) produces improved accuracy, better reliability, and stronger signals compared to the 70% digital navigation payload used by GPS Block III (SV01-SV10).
GPS IIIF-03 and beyond (GPS III SV13+) will incorporate the Lockheed Martin LM2100 Combat Bus, an improvement on the A2100M bus used in GPS III SV01 through SV12. The LM2100 Combat Bus provides improved resilience to cyber attacks, as well as improved spacecraft power, propulsion, and electronics.
GPS IIIF satellites will be the first GPS satellites to host an Energetic Charged Particle (ECP) sensor payload.