Boeing to study new global position system for Air Force

Chicago-based Boeing Co. has received a $20.8 million contract from the Air Force to study a new global positioning system, the company said.

Under the agreement, the Boeing GPS III industry team will perform a 24-month systems requirement review to assess mission needs and evaluate architecture recommendations.

GPS III is an Air Force initiative for developing next-generation GPS and studying how requirements for the satellite-based navigation and timing system will evolve over the next 30 years.

"This award provides Boeing with an opportunity to continue its?role helping the Air Force define the future of the multi-faceted GPS program," said George Muellner, senior vice president and general manager of Boeing Air Force Systems.

Work is scheduled to begin immediately in Seal Beach, Calif., managed by Boeing's Air Force Systems division, which is headquartered in Long Beach, Calif.

Boeing's GPS III team includes engineers from Harris Corp., ITT Industries Inc., Lockheed Martin Corp. and Raytheon Co.

With 2002 revenue of $54 billion, Boeing was ranked No. 4 on Washington Technology's 2003 Top 100 list, which measures federal contracting revenue.