As first reported by Aerospace Daily & Defense Report, The U.S. Air Force has completed final preparation for changing its global positioning system (GPS) ground segment to the new Architecture Evolution Plan (AEP). The modernization plan has been evolving for several years. The transition date is likely to be early to mid-September.

According to the Air Force, the transition is expected to be perceived as seamless and transparent by GPS users. However, if a problem does occur, the Air Force will simply revert to the earlier system. Three full-scale rehearsals have been held and a fourth will occur before the changeover actually occurs.

The transition will take about four hours, during which time each satellite will be switched over individually. Although the Air Force would not divulge the exact date the transition to the AEP will take place, it will inform the public 48 hours after its successful completion.

At a media roundtable on Aug. 16, Lt. Gen. Michael Hamel, commander of Air Force Space and Missile Command, said: "The Air Force is applying the same rigor for this transition as we do with our launch systems. If at any point there's a problem, we have the ability to transition back."

"Changing out the ground control system is like changing the engine on a car while it's speeding down the freeway going 65 miles per hour," he added.
The new ground stations will ensure total visibility of GPS satellites, which, in the old architecture, suffered from blackout and blind periods. Eight additional ground sites have been added to six existing sites, bringing the total to 14, and enabling total coverage as well as triple redundancy in a number of cases.

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