Boeing Completes Testing on Second GPS IIF Satellite SVN-63 for US Air Force

Boeing has announced that the testing is complete on the second GPS IIF developed for the US Air Force, SVN-63.

The satellite has entered service to join the 31-satellite GPS constellation operated by the 50^th Space Wing and 2^nd Space Operations Squadron.

The Director of the GPS Directorate, Colonel Bernard Gruber stated that the Air Force and its allied military forces across the globe utilize GPS devices in almost every system in order to enhance their effectiveness and capabilities and to minimize risk to the fighter. The colonel also stated that the advanced GPS IIF satellite has begun providing secure and strong signals.

Responsible for the GPS space and ground segments, Boeing has been given the task to provide an integrated system solution for the whole constellation and the GPS IIF. Over 40 spacecrafts have been delivered by Boeing to sustain and support the GPS system in the last 30 years.

The Vice President of Boeing Space & Intelligence Systems, Craig Cooning stated that GPS lies at the foundation of civil, defense and global applications for over 1 billion users across the globe. Cooning further stated that the IIF satellite supports the GPS constellation’s ability to accurately provide three-dimensional position, timing and velocity information round-the-clock, irrespective of the weather conditions.

The SVN-63 was launched in July 2011. Verification testing was conducted using Boeing’s Operational Control Segment system, which enhanced anti-jam capabilities and improved security.