The U.S. Space Force has terminated the Global Positioning System Next Generation Operational Control System (OCX) program, the Defense Acquisition Executive decided on April 17, 2026, following a recommendation from the acting service acquisition executive.
The OCX program was designed to modernize command and control of the GPS satellite constellation. It would have replaced the existing Architecture Evolution Plan (AEP) system as well as the Launch, Anomaly and Disposal Operations system. After years of development the program could not deliver the required capabilities on an operationally relevant timeline or at an acceptable level of risk to support ongoing GPS constellation modernization.
Acting Service Acquisition Executive Tom Ainsworth emphasized the need for faster, more agile acquisition.
“It’s important we refine and update acquisition processes to prioritize rapid, incremental capability delivery versus complex‘all or nothing’ system deliveries,” Ainsworth said. “The Department of the Air Force has made clear that we need to deliver warfighting capability at a faster rate. We must continue to work with industry to meet the needs of our warfighters as we focus on delivering the right technology on the right timeline to enhance our capabilities and maintain space superiority.”
The program reached a significant milestone in July 2025 when the Space Force contractually accepted OCX from prime contractor Raytheon following extensive factory testing. The service then moved into integrated systems testing to resolve outstanding issues and verify compatibility with the broader GPS enterprise, which includes ground systems, satellites, and user equipment.
By January 2026, the total program cost had reached approximately $6.27 billion, covering Raytheon’s contract funding plus government testing and program office support costs.
Despite collaborative efforts by government and contractor teams, integrated testing revealed persistent system-wide issues that could not be resolved quickly enough to meet operational needs.
“Regrettably, extensive system issues arose during the integrated testing of OCX with the broader GPS enterprise,” said Col. Stephen Hobbs, commander of Mission Delta 31. “Despite repeated collaborative approaches by the entire government and contractor team, the challenges of onboarding the system in an operationally relevant timeline proved insurmountable. We discovered problems across a broad range of capability areas that would put current GPS military and civilian capabilities at risk.”
Over the past decade, the Space Force has steadily upgraded the legacy AEP system to keep pace with GPS modernization requirements. Those incremental improvements have proven reliable, giving the service confidence that further enhancements to the current control system will adequately support the GPS constellation and introduce new capabilities without the risks associated with OCX.
“Ultimately, we analyzed the work remaining on OCX and compared this with the current GPS control system capability,” Hobbs added. “The analysis revealed additional investment in OCX was no longer the best solution for protecting and advancing GPS capabilities. Instead, we will continue enhancing the current control system to operate the GPS satellite constellation.”
The termination decision reflects a broader push within the Department of the Air Force to shift away from large, high-risk “big bang” programs toward faster, incremental delivery of mission-critical space capabilities. GPS remains the backbone of global navigation, timing, and positioning for both military and civilian users worldwide, and the Space Force stated that existing systems will continue to meet operational demands while modernization efforts proceed on a more sustainable path.
