Space Force swaps launchers to accelerate GPS III satellite deployment

The U.S. Space Force is swapping launch vehicles for GPS III Space Vehicle 09 and GPS IIIF Space Vehicle 13: SV09 will launch on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 instead of ULA’s Vulcan, while SV13 moves to Vulcan (from Falcon Heavy). The trade aims to deliver capabilities faster and reduce costs, continuing a pattern of provider swaps to keep GPS deployments on schedule.