Raytheon team developing the next-generation Global Positioning System (GPS) Advanced Control Segment (OCX) successfully completed on schedule an integrated baseline review with the U.S. Air Force.

"Successful completion of the integrated baseline review is the first step in the team's commitment to delivering the required capability on cost and on schedule," said Bob Canty, Raytheon vice president and program manager. "By using a back-to-basics approach, the team is leveraging rigorous program management and systems engineering processes that enable government partnership and on-time, on-budget program delivery."

When completed, GPS OCX will deliver the next-generation control segment designed to provide secure, accurate and reliable navigation and timing information to military, commercial and civil users. Raytheon is the prime contractor on the $886 million program.

"GPS OCX will be the service integrator among ground, space and user segments to enhance mission command and controls and situational awareness capabilities," Canty said. "This must be done seamlessly while supporting more than a billion users around the world."

The successful completion of the integrated baseline review confirms to the Air Force that the fully integrated team, under Raytheon's leadership, is delivering an executable program that is on schedule for success. The team includes ITT, The Boeing Company, Infinity Systems Engineering, Braxton Technologies and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

The contract represents the first two development blocks of the advanced control segment, which will have a significant impact on GPS capabilities. The OCX system will include anti-jam capabilities and improved security, accuracy and reliability and will be based on a modern service-oriented architecture to integrate government and industry open-system standards.