Program · United States · U.S. Space Force
GPS III / GPS Iiif
GPS III / GPS Iiif · Production · U.S. Space Force
Updated
ProductionU.S. Space Force
Cost to the Government
| Measure | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Program totals · 1 | ||
| GPS IIIF annual RDT&EAnnual research appropriation/reference, not lifetime development cost. FY2025 figures in PB2025 are requests; PB2027 shows FY2025 actuals, FY2026 enacted/spend plan, FY2027 request. | $123.793M / yrNominal $; source budget basis | FY2027 R-1: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation Department of Defense Comptroller · Apr 2026 · figure FY2027 · PB2027; actual / enacted / requested by year |
| Unit costs · 1 | ||
| GPS IIIF production option / satelliteDerived $514.4M / two SV23–24 spacecraft. Excludes costs outside this production option, including enterprise ground systems and launches. | $257.2MNominal $; production-option scope | GPS IIIF space vehicles 23 and 24 award, June 2026 Space Systems Command · figure June 2026 |
| Quantities · 2 | ||
| GPS III operating satellitesSSC snapshot of GPS III, not the entire GPS constellation or IIIF deliveries. | 10U.S. only; stated source scope | GPS IIIF space vehicles 23 and 24 award, June 2026 Space Systems Command · figure June 2026 |
| GPS IIIF satellites on contractIncludes latest two; do not add 14 and two. Not operational inventory. | 14U.S. only; stated source scope | GPS IIIF space vehicles 23 and 24 award, June 2026 Space Systems Command · figure June 2026 |
| Operating costs · 1 | ||
| Annual operations & supportA complete, system-specific annual operating and support cost was not established. Procurement, replacement rounds and contract support are different measures. | Not established | — |
Program totals · 1
- GPS IIIF annual RDT&EAnnual research appropriation/reference, not lifetime development cost. FY2025 figures in PB2025 are requests; PB2027 shows FY2025 actuals, FY2026 enacted/spend plan, FY2027 request.FY2027 R-1: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation Department of Defense Comptroller · Apr 2026 · figure FY2027 · PB2027; actual / enacted / requested by year$123.793M / yrNominal $; source budget basis
Unit costs · 1
- GPS IIIF production option / satelliteDerived $514.4M / two SV23–24 spacecraft. Excludes costs outside this production option, including enterprise ground systems and launches.GPS IIIF space vehicles 23 and 24 award, June 2026 Space Systems Command · figure June 2026$257.2MNominal $; production-option scope
Quantities · 2
- GPS III operating satellitesSSC snapshot of GPS III, not the entire GPS constellation or IIIF deliveries.GPS IIIF space vehicles 23 and 24 award, June 2026 Space Systems Command · figure June 202610U.S. only; stated source scope
- GPS IIIF satellites on contractIncludes latest two; do not add 14 and two. Not operational inventory.GPS IIIF space vehicles 23 and 24 award, June 2026 Space Systems Command · figure June 202614U.S. only; stated source scope
Operating costs · 1
- Annual operations & supportA complete, system-specific annual operating and support cost was not established. Procurement, replacement rounds and contract support are different measures.Source not recordedNot established
Earlier observations · 3
Superseded estimates and prices, each in its original scope and dollar basis.
| Measure | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| GPS IIIF annual RDT&E1 | $233.109M / yrNominal $; source budget basis | FY2027 R-1: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation Department of Defense Comptroller · Apr 2026 · figure FY2025 · PB2027; actual / enacted / requested by year |
| GPS IIIF annual RDT&E1 | $196.152M / yrNominal $; source budget basis | FY2027 R-1: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation Department of Defense Comptroller · Apr 2026 · figure FY2026 · PB2027; actual / enacted / requested by year |
| GPS IIIF annual RDT&E1 | $123.793M / yrNominal $; source budget basis | FY2027 R-1: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation Department of Defense Comptroller · Apr 2026 · figure FY2027 · PB2027; actual / enacted / requested by year |
- GPS IIIF annual RDT&E1FY2027 R-1: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation Department of Defense Comptroller · Apr 2026 · figure FY2025 · PB2027; actual / enacted / requested by year$233.109M / yrNominal $; source budget basis
- GPS IIIF annual RDT&E1FY2027 R-1: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation Department of Defense Comptroller · Apr 2026 · figure FY2026 · PB2027; actual / enacted / requested by year$196.152M / yrNominal $; source budget basis
- GPS IIIF annual RDT&E1FY2027 R-1: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation Department of Defense Comptroller · Apr 2026 · figure FY2027 · PB2027; actual / enacted / requested by year$123.793M / yrNominal $; source budget basis
1Annual research appropriation/reference, not lifetime development cost. FY2025 figures in PB2025 are requests; PB2027 shows FY2025 actuals, FY2026 enacted/spend plan, FY2027 request.
Enterprise spending is broader than satellites
GPS budget totals also include OCX ground control and military user equipment. Those totals are not divided by satellite quantities to create a spacecraft price.
FY2025 Program Acquisition Costs by Weapon System DoD Comptroller · Mar 2024
Contracts & purchasing · 2
Ceilings, options and purchase agreements are not spending and are never added together. Obligations are under Contracts.
| Buyer → seller | Status | Value | Qty | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Space Force → Lockheed MartinHistorical three-satellite production option, separate from 2026 option. | Production option · approximately | $744M | 3 | Three additional GPS IIIF satellites, November 28, 2022 Space Systems Command · figure Nov 28, 2022 |
| U.S. Space Force → Lockheed MartinSV23 and SV24; awarded hardware, not launches or delivered spacecraft. | Production option | $514.4M | 2 | GPS IIIF space vehicles 23 and 24 award, June 2026 Space Systems Command · figure Jun 2026 |
International buyers · 1
| Country | Qty | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United StatesBudget request, not evidence of deliveries or a current fleet inventory. | 14 | U.S. procurement customer | GPS IIIF space vehicles 23 and 24 award, June 2026 Space Systems Command · figure Dated source snapshot |
Open research: Buyer records are selected examples, not a complete global order book. Complete system-specific annual operating and support costs were not established.
What the government budgets and pays for this program, from budget justification books, appropriations, acquisition reports and contract announcements. Each figure states its dollar basis. What contractors were obligated is under Contracts.
Contracts$501M obligated since FY2008
Contractors8
- AeroVironment$323M 65%
- Lockheed Martin$92.9M 19%
- BAE Systems$33.3M 6.6%
- Honeywell International$24.8M 5.0%
- RTX$14.2M 2.8%
- Northrop Grumman$6.0M 1.2%
- Boeing$6.0M 1.2%
- SAIC$493K 0.1%
Awards19
- AeroVironmentUKRAINE RQ-20B ALL ENVIRONMENT (AE) 3 AND LONG ENDURANCE (LE) PUMA UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS (UAS) ACCESSORIES AND SERVICES IN SUPPORT OFU.S. Army · Definitive Contract · Nov 9, 2022$323Mobligated · up to $0 ceiling
- BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.ANTENNA SYSTEMSU.S. Navy · Definitive Contract · Dec 28, 2021$20.3Mobligated · up to $20.4M ceiling
- SAICIGF::OT::IGF GPS SYSTEMS ENGINEERING AND INTEGRATIONU.S. Air Force · Definitive Contract · Nov 18, 2020$493Kobligated · up to $82.3M ceiling
- Lockheed Martin ServicesGLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM CONTROL SEGMENT IIU.S. Air Force · Delivery Order · Jan 1, 2019$86.9Mobligated · up to $54.0M ceiling
- RTXADAP SYSTEMS REPAIRU.S. Air Force · Delivery Order · Jun 12, 2018$305Kobligated · up to $445K ceiling
- RTXPROCURE SELECTIVE AVAILABILITY ANTI-SPOOFING MODULESU.S. Air Force · Delivery Order · Nov 20, 2017$4.0Mobligated · up to $4.0M ceiling
- BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.ANTENNA SYSTEMSU.S. Navy · Definitive Contract · Jun 26, 2017$13.0Mobligated · up to $13.2M ceiling
- RTXADAP SYSTEMS; REQUIREMENTS CONTRACTDefense Contract Management Agency · Delivery Order · May 30, 2017$0obligated · up to $127K ceiling
- RTXANTENNA ELECTRONICS (AE)U.S. Air Force · Delivery Order · Apr 14, 2017$319Kobligated · up to $319K ceiling
- RTXSELECTIVE AVAILABILITY ANTI-SPOOFING MODULES LIGHTNING STRIKESU.S. Air Force · Delivery Order · Nov 30, 2016$5.1Mobligated · up to $5.1M ceiling
- RTXSELECTIVE AVAILABILITY ANTI-SPOOFING MODULES LIGHTNING STRIKESU.S. Air Force · Delivery Order · Oct 28, 2016$4.0Mobligated · up to $4.0M ceiling
- RTXSELECTIVE AVAILABILITY ANTI-SPOOFING MODULESU.S. Air Force · Delivery Order · Sep 16, 2016$494Kobligated
- RTXIGF::OT::IGF ADAP SYSTEMS; GPS ANTENNA DEPOT MAINTENANCE ACTIVATION.Defense Contract Management Agency · Delivery Order · Jul 29, 2016−$88Kobligated · up to $211K ceiling
- RTXANTENNADefense Contract Management Agency · Delivery Order · Jun 21, 2016−$27Kobligated · up to $261K ceiling
- Northrop Grumman Systems CorporationGLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM III SPACE VEHICLES 11+ PHASE 1 PRODUCTION READINESS FEASIBILITY ASSESSMENTU.S. Air Force · Definitive Contract · May 5, 2016$6.0Mobligated · up to $6.0M ceiling
- BoeingGLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM III SPACE VEHICLES 11+ PHASE 1 PRODUCTION READINESS FEASIBILITY ASSESSMENTU.S. Air Force · Definitive Contract · May 5, 2016$6.0Mobligated · up to $6.0M ceiling
- Lockheed MartinGLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM III SPACE VEHICLES 11+ PHASE 1 PRODUCTION READINESS FEASIBILITY ASSESSMENTU.S. Air Force · Definitive Contract · May 5, 2016$6.0Mobligated · up to $6.0M ceiling
- Honeywell InternationalNSN:6605-01-513-5946 P/N:34209950-R004-960 PLATFORM:9.8 EGI WITH SAASM RECEIVER PLATFORM: AH64DDefense Logistics Agency · Delivery Order · Sep 11, 2014$24.7Mobligated
- Honeywell InternationalRECEIVER TRANSMITTER RT-1411.U.S. Army · Delivery Order · Dec 17, 2007$159Kobligated
Obligations are signed USAspending prime-contract actions coded to this program, FY2008 to date, credited to the company that received each action. Obligations are money committed, not company revenue.