The Pentagon has terminated the Global Positioning System Next-Generation Operational Control System, or OCX, after 16 years of development and escalating costs. US Space Force officials cited insurmountable testing issues that risked current GPS capabilities. The program, originally awarded to Raytheon in 2010, will be replaced by upgrades to the existing legacy system.
Michael Duffey, the Pentagon’s defense acquisition executive, officially canceled OCX on April 17, the Space Force announced on Monday. The program aimed to provide command and control for GPS satellites, including support for new GPS III signals and two master control stations. Costs ballooned from an initial $3.7 billion projection to nearly $8 billion, with delivery delayed until 2025, when further tests revealed broad problems across capability areas. As of January, the government had spent $6.27 billion on the effort, including contractor payments and testing expenses. Col. Stephen Hobbs, commander of the Space Force’s Mission Delta 31, which operates the GPS constellation, stated: “Regrettably, extensive system issues arose during the integrated testing of OCX with the broader GPS enterprise.” He added that challenges proved insurmountable despite collaborative efforts, risking military and civilian GPS operations. RTX Corporation, formerly Raytheon, confirmed delivery of the system in 2025 and pledged continued support. The Space Force will now enhance its decades-old control system through an Architecture Evolution Plan, enabling features like resilient M-code signals against jamming and spoofing. Earlier this month, it awarded Lockheed Martin a $105 million contract for upgrades supporting upcoming GPS IIIF satellites. Tom Ainsworth, assistant secretary of the Air Force for space acquisition, emphasized refining processes for faster deliveries over complex systems.
