The United States Air Force has put out an RFP for manufacturers to prove their readiness to make a new version of the next-generation GPS III SV11+ satellite. The competition to build the bird is expected to run into the billions of dollars.
The United States Air Force has put out an RFP for manufacturers to prove their readiness to make a new version of the next-generation GPS III SV11+ satellite.
Up to three contracts will be awarded in the second half of the year, each with a value of up to US$6m, to assess contractors’ readiness to compete to build the GPS III SV11+, which will supplement the US’s existing GPS constellation.
A tender to build as many as 22 of the upgraded satellites will follow, resulting in the award of what is expected to be a multi-billion dollar contract.
“Industry told us they were ready to compete for the GPS III space vehicles,” said Colonel Steve Whitney (pictured), director of the GPS directorate at the Air Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center.
“We listened and are looking forward to working with industry to assess the feasibility of a follow-on, competitive production contract.”
Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) won the initial GPS III contract in 2008 but delays have meant the first launch of a GPS III bird will be in 2017 at the earliest. It plans to participate in the competition for the contract to build the upgraded GPS IIIs.
In December Northrop Grumman’s (NYSE:NOC) president of aerospace systems, Tom Vice, was quoted saying it was ready to compete when the tender for the next-generation GPS III satellites begins. Aerospace giant Boeing (NYSE:BA) has also confirmed its intention to bid.
The Air Force’s Lieutenant General Arnold Bunch was previously quoted as saying he expected all three manufacturers to bid.
Competition in launch
There is also set to be competition in the launch process for the satellites. Last year SpaceX won Air Force certification to compete for national security missions in a market dominated by United Launch Alliance since its formation in 2006.
In November, ULA announced it would not bid for a contract to launch a GPS III satellite in 2018, leaving SpaceX as the only bidder. ULA said limits imposed by Congress on how many of the Russian-made RD-180 engines that power its Atlas V rocket meant it did not have sufficient inventory to compete.
However, a provision in the US government’s US$1.15tn omnibus spending bill, signed into law by President Obama in December, lifted the limits Congress placed on its use of the Russian-made engines to reintroduce competition into national security launches.
This was much to the ire of Senator John McCain who had led the legislation to limit the use of the RD-180, built by NPO Energomash.
Congress had banned ULA from using RD-180s for US national security missions in the wake of Russia’s annexation of Crimea, as part of wider sanctions to punish the Kremlin for its incursions into Ukraine.
Days after President Obama signed the 2016 spending bill into law, ULA placed an order for another batch of RD-180s and has said it is once again in a position to compete. ULA also reaffirmed its commitment to developing an American engine to replace the RD-180.
“We are moving smartly with our engine partners, Blue Origin and our backup Aerojet Rocketdyne, but this type of development program is difficult and takes years to complete,” the company said.
“Until then, this bridge contract will allow ULA to provide the reliable, affordable launch services our civil and commercial customers depend on from us while the new, American engine is being developed.”
