Raytheon Says It Achieved two milestones in Creating next-generation GPS controls

Raytheon Inc.

revealed that it passed both a qualification, as well as, a critical design review milestone as part of its development of the U.S. Air Force's Global Positioning System Next Generation Operational Control System, or GPS OCX. According to the company, this new system provided significant enhancements to the GPS on which the American military and millions of civilians rely. That included improved availability, accuracy and security. Raytheon's VP and program manager, Bill Sullivan, said, "The completion of these test and design milestones demonstrates our progress on OCX execution with our Air Force customer. As the program execution has stabilized, we are showing consistent progress on downstream deliveries for the GPS OCX program." The company indicated that OCX's development is delivered in "blocks," with Block 0 comprising the Launch and Checkout System for the launch and early orbit of GPS III satellites. The first successful milestone for the OCX Monitor Station Receiver Element was the Block 1 Electromagnetic Interference Test, which was completed with a 100 percent requirements pass rate. The company stated that the OCX Launch and Checkout System offered an early delivery of much of the overall OCX capability, and will support the GPS III satellite launches. Shares of the company traded 0.5 percent down on Thursday.