U.S. Space Force terminates contract for next-gen GPS control system

The Pentagon has terminated the Global Positioning System Next Generation Operational Control System after concluding the modernization effort could not be fielded quickly or safely enough to meet the constellation’s needs.

The Defense Acquisition Executive canceled the program on April 17 at the recommendation of the acting service acquisition executive, according to the department’s announcement. OCX was designed to take over command and control of the GPS satellite fleet from the current Architecture Evolution Plan system and to replace the Launch, Anomaly and Disposal Operations system, but officials determined the upgrade could not deliver the required capabilities on an operationally relevant timeline at an acceptable level of risk.

“It’s important we refine and update acquisition processes to prioritize rapid, incremental capability delivery versus complex ‘all or nothing’ system deliveries,” said Acting Service Acquisition Executive Tom Ainsworth. “The Department of War has made clear that we need to deliver warfighting capability at a faster rate. We must continue to work with industry to meet the needs of our warfighters as we focus on delivering the right technology on the right timeline to enhance our capabilities and maintain space superiority.”

Following years of factory testing, the Space Force formally accepted OCX from Raytheon in July 2025 and began extensive integrated testing to work through issues identified at the factory and to ensure compatibility across the broader GPS enterprise, including ground systems, satellites and user equipment.

As of January 2026, the program’s cost stood at roughly $6.27 billion, a figure that encompassed all contractor funding to date as well as government testing and program office support.

“Regrettably, extensive system issues arose during the integrated testing of OCX with the broader GPS enterprise,” said Mission Delta 31 Commander Col. Stephen Hobbs. “Despite repeated collaborative approaches by the entire government and contractor team, the challenges of onboarding the system in an operationally relevant timeline proved insurmountable. We discovered problems across a broad range of capability areas that would put current GPS military and civilian capabilities at risk.”

In parallel with OCX delays, the Space Force has spent the past decade incrementally upgrading the legacy AEP ground architecture. Those improvements, officials said, give the service confidence it can keep operating the constellation and roll out new features without OCX.

“Ultimately, we analyzed the work remaining on OCX and compared this with the current GPS control system capability,” Hobbs said. “The analysis revealed additional investment in OCX was no longer the best solution for protecting and advancing GPS capabilities. Instead, we will continue enhancing the current control system to operate the GPS satellite constellation.”

The cancellation underscores a broader shift toward delivering upgrades in smaller, faster increments rather than pursuing large, monolithic control-system replacements. The Space Force did not detail a revised schedule for forthcoming GPS ground enhancements, but said existing systems will continue to support both military and civil users as modernization proceeds through incremental updates.