Lockheed Martin announced that GPS IIIF Satellite 11 (SV11) has completed its core‑mate phase, a key manufacturing milestone that formally brings the satellite to life. The completion was confirmed on April 29, 2026, and marks the third GPS IIIF satellite to reach this stage after SV13 and SV14, while SV11 is slated to be the first of the series to launch.
SV11 is the third GPS IIIF satellite to finish core‑mate, but it is the first to be launched. The GPS IIIF program follows the GPS III series (SV01‑10) and is designed to add 22 satellites with enhanced Regional Military Protection, M‑Code encryption, and new search‑and‑rescue capabilities. The satellite’s M‑Code signals provide secure, anti‑spoofing coverage for U.S. military users, and its search‑and‑rescue payload will help first responders locate people in remote areas.
Lockheed Martin is leveraging advanced manufacturing techniques at its Denver facility, including augmented‑reality tools and digital‑twins technology, to accelerate production and reduce costs. The company’s investment in these methods is part of a broader effort to maintain the pace required to meet the U.S. Space Force’s deployment schedule, which now faces a challenge after the Pentagon cancelled the Next‑Generation GPS Operational Control Segment (OCX) contract with RTX on April 17, 2026. The cancellation raises questions about the command and control of future GPS satellites, but Lockheed Martin’s production momentum remains a key factor in keeping the constellation on track.
Christina Mancinelli, Vice President of Global Communications & Navigation, said, “Core mate of SV11 showcases the production momentum behind the next‑generation GPS IIIF satellites as we continue to invest in advanced manufacturing. With three GPS IIIF satellites past core mate, we've taken pivotal steps toward accelerating production, ensuring we're delivering critical next‑generation resiliency capabilities to the GPS constellation at the pace warfighters need to protect our nation.”
The completion of SV11’s core‑mate phase signals that Lockheed Martin is on schedule to launch the first GPS IIIF satellite in 2027, with subsequent launches planned through at least 2037. The milestone demonstrates the company’s ability to scale production, integrate new technologies, and maintain the delivery cadence required for the U.S. Space Force’s modernization goals, even as the ground‑control system transition remains uncertain.
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