As part of a larger ongoing effort by Air Force officials to improve and maintain the current GPS ground system, Air Force Space Command officials completed another sustainment software release for the GPS operational control segment ground system.

Officials from the 2nd Space Operations Squadron at Schriever AFB, Colo., completed the Architecture Evolution Plan 5.6 software upload Jan. 5.

"This AEP 5.6 is a small software update, bringing specific changes to support the upcoming IIF-2 launch," said Col. Harold Martin, the acting Positioning, Navigation and Timing Command lead of the Air Force Space Command Directorate of Air, Space and Cyberspace Operations.

"This release does not contain fixes involving any changes to the navigation message, and therefore should be transparent to the end user."

Air Force Space Command officials said they are dedicated to the modernization of GPS and committed to developing and delivering control systems to enable command and control of new signals and capabilities.

The GPS constellation remains healthy, stable and robust, with 31 operational satellites on-orbit providing precise positioning, navigation and timing worldwide, free of direct charges to users, officials said.