The Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles AFB, Calif., intends to award a sole-source contract to Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company to support the operations and sustainment of the Global Positioning System Block IIR satellite fleet from January 2009 through December 2016. The cost-plus-fixed-fee contract will have a one-year base period and seven one-year options. The new deal will be a follow-on arrangement to the current contract with Lockheed Martin that will expire at the end of the year. The fifth of eight Lockheed-modernized GPS IIR spacecraft launched last month.
Walking the flight line occupied by Blackhawk attack helicopters and American troops on rotation at the “MK” air base in Romania, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III highlighted the important strategic value of one of NATO’s newest members Oct. 20 ahead of NATO defense ministerial meetings in Brussels Oct. 21-22.…