Space Force ends ‘Resilient GPS’ satellite program

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Space Force has ended an exploratory effort to add smaller, lower-cost navigation satellites to bolster the Global Positioning System, shelving a program that had been identified as a priority.

The effort, known as Resilient GPS, or R-GPS, began in 2024 and funded three industry teams to develop designs and early prototypes for alternative navigation satellites. The Space Force confirmed it does not plan to move forward with deployments or on-orbit demonstrations.

“The initial phase of R-GPS was completed and will inform future decisions related to the future GPS architecture,” a spokesperson for the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command said in a statement. Funding for what would have been Phase 1 of the program was not included in the fiscal year 2026 budget “due to higher Department of the Air Force priorities,” the spokesperson said.

In September 2024, the Space Force selected Astranis, L3Harris Technologies and Sierra Space to develop concepts for smaller, more cost-effective navigation satellites based on commercial designs. The goal was to increase GPS resilience through proliferation and disaggregation, helping counter threats such as jamming and spoofing.

The Department of the Air Force initially described R-GPS as a pressing need and used expedited “quick start” acquisition authorities to accelerate contract awards. Space Force officials said they expected to select at least one design for an on-orbit demonstration in a follow-on phase. 

Instead, the program has ended after its initial study phase.

R-GPS was part of a broader push by the Pentagon to diversify satellite architectures amid growing concerns that spacecraft are increasingly vulnerable to interference or attack. The GPS constellation, which underpins military operations and much of the global economy, relies on a network of high-value satellites in medium Earth orbit made by Lockheed Martin. 

The Space Force has not said whether it plans to pursue alternative positioning, navigation and timing efforts in place of R-GPS. Lawmakers have repeatedly raised concerns about GPS vulnerability and have called for studies examining commercial low Earth orbit navigation services as potential complements or backups.