The Space Force has announced the selection of four companies to initiate its Resilient Global Positioning System (R-GPS), designed to provide backup for GPS satellite signals, particularly during crises and conflicts when these signals are frequently jammed, according to a release from Space Systems Command (SSC).
The companies awarded contracts are Astranis, Axient, L3 Harris, and Sierra Space, each tasked with producing design concepts for the first of three planned Lite Evolving Augmented Proliferation (LEAP) efforts that constitute the R-GPS program.
“R-GPS enhances resilience for both military and civilian GPS user communities by supplementing the GPS constellation with proliferated small satellites that transmit a core set of widely-used GPS signals,” the SSC statement noted.
Each LEAP phase will consist of eight small, cost-effective satellites with progressively improved capabilities, with the first set expected to begin launching in 2028, SSC explained.
The contracts were awarded through the Other Transaction Authority via the Space Enterprise Consortium (SpEC); however, the press release did not specify the contract values or the exact signals to be broadcast.
The existing 31 GPS satellites transmit a variety of signals in the L1 frequency band (1575.42 MHz) and the L2 band (1227.60 MHz), including the encrypted, jam-resistant M-Code that is restricted to military users. Newer satellite models also broadcast in the L5 band (1176.45 MHz), mainly for aviation safety.
“Following this initial phase, a subset of the awardees will proceed to a Final Design Review and develop payload prototypes. One or more vendors will then be selected to build the first satellite vehicles,” stated the SSC release.
The R-GPS program is part of Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall’s “quick start” initiative to expedite acquisitions by circumventing the lengthy budget process. Congress allocated $100 million for the quick start effort in the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act, which is lower than Kendall’s initial request of $300 million.
“Thanks to the Quick-Start authority approved by Congress, we were able to field and award contracts for these low-cost satellites in less than six months,” Kendall remarked in the SSC press release.
