ITT Exelis Performs Initial Power-Up of GPS III Navigation Payload Element Development Model

ITT (News - Alert) Exelis, a global aerospace, defense and information solutions company has integrated and performed the initial power-up of the Global Positioning System III (GPS III) Non-Flight Satellite Testbed (GNST) Navigation Payload Element (NPE), or full-size payload prototype.

The company boasts 21,000 people and generated revenue worth $5.9 billion in 2010.

The GNST NPE system is scheduled for its first launch in 2014. The next generation of GPS III satellites will deliver significant improvements compared with current GPS space vehicles.

The U.S. Air Force is committed to executing the GPS III program to affordably and efficiently sustain and modernize the GPS satellite constellation.

"ITT Exelis continues to progress toward the delivery of this critical GPS III component," said Mark Pisani, vice president and general manager, Positioning, Navigation and Timing Systems, Geospatial Systems, a division of ITT Exelis, in a statement.

"Successfully completing the initial power-up of the GNST Navigation Payload Element demonstrates our confidence that any issues will be identified and solved prior to building the first space vehicle. ITT Exelis is committed to providing our warfighters and commercial and civilian users more accurate and reliable capabilities that improve interoperability and jam-resistance," Pisani added.

The power-up of the GNST NPE system shows that the digital communications, telemetry and RF interfaces are working properly. It also assures that the system can be configured and operated correctly.

"The government and industry GPS III team is making excellent progress and the successful powering up of the navigation payload is the latest program milestone demonstrating we are on track to deliver the first satellite for launch in 2014," said Don Frew, the U.S. Air Force's GPS III program manager.

Recently, ITT Exelis announced the appointment of Chuck Anderson as vice president and director of strategic initiatives for its Colorado Springs-based Mission Systems business area.