Sierra Space Demonstrates Resilient GPS Satellite Technology for National Security-Focused U.S. Space Force Satellite Program

LOUISVILLE, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sierra Space, a leading commercial space company and defense tech prime that is Building a Platform in Space to Benefit Life on Earth^® and protect economic freedom in the Orbital Age^®, announced today a successful demonstration of the company’s Resilient GPS (R-GPS) technology for the U.S. Space Force (USSF). This major accomplishment, generating all GPS navigation signals required for the R-GPS mission, was achieved in collaboration with General Dynamics Mission Systems. This technology targets the increased need for more resilient GPS systems that protect the United States against adversarial threats like jamming and spoofing of the current GPS infrastructure.

GPS technology plays a crucial role in daily life, supporting everything from civilian services such as smartphone map applications to vital military and defense uses. However, as adversarial threats become more advanced, there is an increasing need for more resilient GPS infrastructure. To address this, the USSF’s Quick Start program is developing concepts for integrating a layer of smaller and more affordable satellites into the existing GPS framework. This R-GPS layer of smaller GPS satellites would be capable of rapid fielding to counter evolving threats. Sierra Space’s expertise in small satellite technology provides a competitive edge in achieving this goal.

“This successful demonstration is a testament to the innovative capabilities of Sierra Space and General Dynamics,” said Erik Daehler, Vice President of Sierra Space Defense. “This milestone not only underscores our commitment to advancing GPS technology, but positions Sierra Space to be optioned for Phase One, the next step of the U.S. Space Force’s Quick Start program.”

In September 2024 Sierra Space announced a “Quick Start” R-GPS contract awarded by the USSF Space Systems Command (SSC) to develop design concepts for smaller, more affordable GPS satellites. Later In 2024, Sierra Space successfully passed an internal Systems Requirements Review. Now, a few short months after the program began, Sierra Space has passed this even larger milestone, providing a positive demonstration of the R-GPS program's technology.

“Our country needs GPS satellites with more capability and resiliency at a faster rate, and we are proud to bring our mature, mission-ready and proven portfolio of capabilities to Sierra Space to help the U.S. Space Force achieve these objectives quickly,” said Amy Johnson, vice president and general manager for the Space, Cyber & Intelligence Systems line of business with General Dynamics Mission Systems.

The demonstration focused on the satellite's hardware, firmware, and software that generates 'YMCA' waveforms including P(Y), M-code, and C/A signals at L1 and L2 frequencies. This achievement is a significant step forward in ensuring that the GPS navigation signals generated by R-GPS satellites will be accurate, secure, and compatible with the devices that millions of people use every day.

About Sierra Space

Sierra Space is a leading commercial space company at the forefront of innovation and the commercialization of space in the Orbital Age^®, building an end-to-end business and technology platform in space to benefit and protect life on Earth. With more than 30 years and 500 missions of space flight heritage, the company is reinventing both space transportation with Dream Chaser^®, the world’s only commercial spaceplane, and the future of space destinations with the company’s inflatable and expandable space station technology. Using commercial business models, the company is also delivering orbital services to commercial, DoD and national security organizations, expanding production capacity to meet the needs of constellation programs. In addition, Sierra Space builds a host of systems and subsystems across solar power, mechanics and motion control, environmental control, life support, propulsion and thermal control, offering myriad space-as-a-service solutions for the new space economy.

About General Dynamics Mission Systems

General Dynamics Mission Systems provides mission-critical solutions for defense, intelligence and cybersecurity customers across all domains. Headquartered in Fairfax, General Dynamics Mission Systems employs approximately 12,000 people worldwide. More information about General Dynamics Mission Systems is available at gdmissionsystems.com.