Lockheed Martin Launches Ninth GPS III Satellite into Orbit

Lockheed Martin has successfully placed its ninth GPS III satellite (SV09) into orbit, reinforcing the resilience and performance of the U.S. Global Positioning System constellation. The satellite launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 11:53 p.m. ET aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and achieved signal acquisition shortly after deployment.

Following launch, GPS III SV09 entered initial checkout operations at Lockheed Martin’s Denver Launch & Checkout Operations Center, where it will remain until formal acceptance into the GPS operational control network.

GPS III SV09 delivers enhanced anti-jamming and cybersecurity capabilities designed to support military operations in contested or denied environments. Compared with earlier generations, GPS III satellites provide three-times greater positioning accuracy, eight-times improved resistance to jamming, and M-code military signals to ensure secure and reliable navigation and timing for warfighters worldwide.

Beyond defense applications, each additional GPS III satellite improves signal robustness for civilian infrastructure, including aviation navigation, precision agriculture, and telecommunications timing. Sustaining constellation performance is increasingly critical as legacy satellites age and global dependence on GPS continues to grow.

SV09 is also equipped with a laser retroreflector array to improve measurements of Earth’s orientation within the GPS coordinate system, supporting long-term geodetic accuracy.

Lockheed Martin has now completed production of GPS III satellites SV01 through SV10 and is progressing with manufacturing of the next-generation GPS IIIF series, which is expected to deliver substantially higher anti-jamming performance and expanded mission capabilities.

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