Official U.S. government information about the
Global Positioning System (GPS) and related topics
OCX Risk Mitigations
The GPS III program includes two efforts as risk mitigations to late OCX delivery: Contingency Operations (COps) and M-Code Early Use (MCEU).
More Information
GPS III Contingency Operations
COps will fly GPS III space vehicles to be brought into the operational constellation, sustaining current levels of performance and avoiding degradation.
The current acquisition schedule of OCX Block 1 (capability to operate GPS III satellites) puts GPS constellation sustainment at risk since the current control segment cannot operate GPS III satellites.
GPS III COps is a modification to the current control segment to operate GPS III satellites' positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) and Nuclear Detonation Detection System (NDS) payloads and maintain limited test M-Code capability until OCX Block 1 is delivered.
COps relies on OCX Block 0 for GPS III launch, major anomaly, and disposal capabilities.
Recent Developments
- Mar 2020: COps received operational acceptance from the U.S. Space Force. Learn more at spaceforce.mil
- Oct 2019: COps received approval to enter a trial period and successfully connected with the first GPS III satellite on orbit. Learn more at spaceforce.mil
- June 2019: COps was delivered and completed final system test.
- May 2019: COps completed final ground control system software testing and verification.
- Dec 2016: COps passed its critical design review.
- May 2016: COps passed its preliminary design review.
- Feb 2016: The Air Force announced a modification to the GPS III development contract to implement COps. Learn more at defense.gov
Return to top of pageM-Code Early Use
MCEU is necessary to provide core capabilities of the modernized military GPS signal, known as M-Code, to the military GPS user community.
Without M-Code, military GPS users will continue to be threatened by GPS jamming and spoofing. Thus, by providing M-Code signal, MCEU will provide greater protections against those threats prior to delivery of OCX Block 1.
Additionally, when MCEU becomes operational, it can support the operational testing of Military GPS User Equipment.
Recent Developments
- Nov 2020: MCEU received operational acceptance from the U.S. Space Force. Learn more at spaceforce.mil
- Jul 2020: The Space Force completed installation of the major MCEU hardware and software into the GPS Operational Control System (OCS). Learn more at spaceforce.mil
- Aug 2017: The Air Force announced award of the prime contract to develop and install MCEU into OCS. Learn more at defense.gov
