The US Space Force has chosen four aerospace firms — Astranis, Axient, L3 Harris and Sierra Space — to come up with designs for satellites that could act as supplements to the GPS constellation.

The contracts have been awarded under the Lite Evolving Augmented Proliferation (LEAP) section of the Resilient Global Positioning System (R-GPS) program. 

Under R-GPS, a number small satellites would be launched that would transmit a core subset of GPS signals, thereby augmenting the GPS constellation and providing resilience for both the military and civilian GPS user communities.

The concept is based upon the outcomes of recent studies that recommended fielding an additional fleet of small GPS satellites.

Unusually for a government-led program, the entire process from approval to contract award was remarkably speedy.

“Thanks to the Quick-Start authority that was approved by Congress, we were able to field and award contracts for these low-cost satellites in less than six months,” said Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall.

The initial LEAP R-GPS award is the first of three phases that are intended to result in up to eight R-GPS satellites being available for launch as soon as 2028. 

“The importance of resilience can’t be overstated as we work to address the new challenges they present,” said Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman.

“R-GPS is one way we’re working to ensure access to critical Positioning, Navigation and Timing capabilities, for the warfighter and civil users alike.”

Once the four companies’ designs are submitted and reviewed, a subset of them will be approved to continue to a Final Design Review and the building of payload prototypes, after which one or more of the firms will be chosen to build the first satellites for launch.