Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) on Wednesday disclosed the successful launch of its ninth GPS III satellite (SV09).
This expands the connectivity, enhancing warfighter operations in contested environments, and underscoring U.S. technological leadership.
Details
The satellite lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 11:53 p.m. ET aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 and achieved signal acquisition shortly after launch.
GPS III SV09 strengthens military navigation with enhanced security, superior anti-jamming, and precise timing in contested environments.
Overall, GPS III satellites offer up to three-times better accuracy, eight-times stronger jamming resistance, and advanced M-code signals for global defense use.
GPS III SV09 also carries a laser retroreflector array to enhance future GPS signal performance by improving measurements of Earth’s orientation within the GPS coordinate system.
Lockheed Martin has finished building GPS III satellites SV01–SV10 and is now producing the next-generation GPS IIIF spacecraft.
Management Commentary
Malik Musawwir, vice president of Navigation Systems at Lockheed Martin, said, “By adding more resilient satellites to the constellation, we’re laying the foundation for the GPS IIIF‑era, which will provide 60-times more anti-jam capabilities. The ongoing investment in GPS III launches and additional GPS IIIF satellites ensures uninterrupted, precise navigation and timing for our forces, even in contested or denied environments.”
Lockheed Martin will release its fourth-quarter earnings report on January 29.
Wall Street consensus currently pegs Lockheed’s fourth-quarter earnings per share (EPS) at approximately $5.87, as per Benzinga. However, management’s full-year 2025 guidance, reaffirmed in October, tells a more bullish story.
LMT Price Action: Lockheed Martin shares were down 0.32% at $593.02 during premarket trading on Wednesday. The stock is trading near its 52-week high of $596.22, according to Benzinga Pro data.
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