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Pentagon May Cancel GPS OCX After 15 Years of Delays

30 March, 2026.Technology and Science.3 sources

Key Takeaways

Pentagon weighing termination or major reduction of RTX-built GPS OCX program.
OCX modernizes command and control of the GPS satellites.
Costs reached about $8 billion over roughly 16 years.

GPS OCX Struggles

The Pentagon is considering canceling OCX less than a year after the Space Force took ownership.

“Amid persistent development and testing delays, the Space Force is considering canceling a program to develop a ground system to manage its newest GPS satellites, a spokesperson told Air & Space Forces Magazine”

Air & Space Forces Magazine

Originally contracted at $3.7 billion, the program now stands at $7.6 billion.

Air & Space Forces Magazine

Persistent software defects and testing setbacks have plagued the program.

Options on the Table

Officials are considering scaling back RTX's role.

Parts of OCX may be folded into an upgraded AEP system.

Ars Technica

The analysis has been submitted to Pentagon acquisition chief Michael Duffey.

Challenges and Costs

RTX is developing an OCX augmentation projected to cost more than $400 million.

“WASHINGTON — The Pentagon is expected to terminate or sharply reduce work on a long-delayed GPS ground control program built by RTX, as officials grapple with persistent technical issues more than a decade into development”