Raytheon secures $380 million contract extension for GPS ground control system

Raytheon, a subsidiary of RTX Corp, has secured a $379.7 million contract extension from the U.S. Space Force to continue developing the Next Generation Operational Control System (OCX) for the Global Positioning System (GPS). This extension, announced on May 21, 2025, adds another year to the project, aiming for operational readiness by 2026. Including all options, the total value of the OCX contract has reached approximately $4.6 billion.

Originally awarded in 2010 with a value of $1.5 billion, the OCX program has faced significant delays, being over eight years behind schedule. The system is designed to modernize command and control of both current and next-generation GPS satellites, offering enhanced cybersecurity, broader compatibility with navigation signals, and support for new encrypted features to improve resilience in contested environments.

Despite its troubled history, the OCX program has made progress. It has achieved 130 successful operational contacts with legacy GPS satellites and has broadcast its first OCX-generated signal tracked by a monitoring station. Delivery of the completed system to the Space Force’s Space Operations Command is expected this fall, with a formal trial period and phased transition planned for early fiscal 2026. Full operational acceptance is anticipated by spring 2026.