Space Force sees light at the end of the development tunnel for OCX, ATLAS

Space Force Maj. Gen. Stephen Purdy (Image: Space Force Association)

WASHINGTON — The Space Force’s two biggest problem children — the next-generation ground system for GPS satellites and a crucial software update for the service’s space domain awareness network — are both expected to soon overcome their long-standing development woes, according to the acting head of the Air Force’s space acquisition shop.

Speaking to the the annual Defense and Intelligence Space Conference sponsored by the National Security Space Association, Maj. Gen. Stephen Purdy was optimistic that both programs would be in the hands of operators as soon as fall.

Purdy currently is warming the Air Force space acquisition chair left empty by the departure of Frank Calvelli in January with the change of administration.

In particular, Purdy highlighted testing progress being made by the GPS Next-Generation Operational Control System (OCX) program — citing the fact the ground system is “in operator hands touching actual satellites right now,” having “hit 40 contacts with live satellites” as of Feb. 5.

Overall, he said, the program has now made it through testing of 97 percent of its requirements.

Calvelli, in an exclusive Jan. 15 exit interview with Breaking Defense, called the failure to get OCX working during his term as the first Department of the Air Force Space Acquisition Executive one of his “greatest regrets.”

Under development by RTX Space (formerly Raytheon) for nigh on 15 years, OCX is needed to allow some 700 weapon systems across the US military to fully access the encrypted M-code GPS signal that will be harder for adversaries to jam. Further, OCX Block 3F, which is the final planned version of the update, will be needed to allow Space Force Guardians to operate the GPS Follow-On, or GPS IIIF, constellation, currently expected to begin launching in 2027.

Purdy said the OCX program office at Space Systems Command is working toward a decision on whether the ground system is ready to operate this summer; followed by a decision on actually fielding it. If all goes well, he said, GPS satellites then will be “transitioned” to the new ground system — something Calvelli in January said he hoped would happen by the end of this calendar year.

“I know that’s been a long-running program, but we’re a little further along than perhaps you’re tracking,” he said.

Meanwhile, operational testing of the Advanced Tracking and Launch Analysis System (ATLAS) software to modernize the Space Force’s core command and control capabilities for space domain awareness, is going smoothly, Purdy explained.

ATLAS is the Pentagon’s latest effort, following a plethora of failed attempts, to replace the 1980s-era Space Defense Operations Center (SPADOC) computer system for managing data from the military’s network of radar and telescopes that detect and track objects on orbit.

Purdy said that so far the testing program has “resolved or mitigated” all of problems dubbed “Category 1 Deficiencies” — which are those that could cause a catastrophic failure — as well as “most if not all” of the Category 2 problems.

“So, that software is looking pretty good,” he said.

Noting its “really interesting performance,” Purdy said that if all continues to go well, ATLAS is expected to pass “operational acceptance,” which he explained is the “equivalent” of initial operational capability, this summer.

The Space Force originally planned for ATLAS to become operational in 2022, but the program has been troubled by technical issues with integration into the Space Force’s legacy systems and schedule delays.

Meanwhile, the Space Systems Command on Jan. 30 announced that it had awarded a $90M sole-source contract to L3Harris for continuation of the ATLAS program.

“This sole-source award will ensure a seamless continuation of the ATLAS program to achieve ATLAS Minimum Viable Capability Release (MVCR) Operational Acceptance and will deliver a modernized and integrated SDA system,” the press release said.