Pentagon cancels GPS OCX after 16-year, multibillion-dollar struggle

The Pentagon terminated the Global Positioning System Next-Generation Operational Control System (OCX) after years of delays and cost overruns, saying continuing was no longer the best path for GPS capabilities. The Space Force will instead upgrade the legacy GPS ground control system to support newer features like the M-code signals, while RTX (Raytheon) delivered OCX in 2025 but will shift to post-delivery support. The move accompanies ongoing GPS III/IIIF satellite operations and a recent $105 million contract to Lockheed Martin for ground-system upgrades, signaling a pivot toward incremental improvements rather than a single all-encompassing system.