On Tue, 08 May 2007 22:06:48 GMT, Tom L. wrote
in :

It will be compatible with GPS
(whatever that means), and, together with GPS, improve positioning
accuracy and reliability worldwide.

Apparently the USAF is about to let a contract for the next generation
GPS, and according to Boeing's press release below, it may be
interoperable with Europe's upcoming Galileo system:


ST. LOUIS, April 26, 2007 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] this month
successfully completed a critical Global Positioning System (GPS)
Space Segment III System Design Review, supporting the U.S. Air
Force's requirement for a low-risk, high-confidence acquisition
solution.

During the review, Boeing demonstrated the technical readiness of
its GPS III payload design that will allow the Air Force to field
and upgrade GPS satellites quickly and cost effectively. This
solution, combined with signal power improvements, provides a more
capable GPS service for civilian and military users.

"We clearly showed the technical maturity and backward
compatibility of our flexible and scalable design for the Air
Force," said Charles Toups, vice president, Boeing Navigation and
Communication Systems, a unit of Boeing Space and Intelligence
Systems. "We designed the GPS III system to be scalable so the
design of the first spacecraft can gracefully grow to accommodate
future capability upgrades without requiring an entirely new
spacecraft design. This approach greatly reduces costly and time
intensive re-qualification and shortens the development time to
deploy new capabilities."

The Air Force is expected to award the multi-billion dollar GPS
III contract soon in order to meet a projected launch need in
2013. Boeing's "back-to-the-basics" space system acquisition plan
positions Boeing and the Air Force to move forward with detailed
design development and, eventually, GPS III production.

GPS III will provide improved navigation and timing accuracy and
broadcast more powerful signals that are less vulnerable to
jamming. It also will incorporate a new civil signal that is
interoperable with Europe's upcoming Galileo system. Boeing's
adaptable GPS III design allows the government to provide enhanced
position, navigation and timing information while effectively
managing lifecycle costs.

Boeing is working closely with the U.S. Air Force to deliver new,
advanced GPS capabilities to the military, civil government and
general public as early as possible. This includes Boeing's
current production of 12 GPS Block IIF satellites under a contract
from the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center in Los
Angeles. Boeing will deliver the first GPS IIF satellite in 2008.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems
http://www.boeing.com/ids/index.html is one of the world's
largest space and defense businesses specializing in innovative
and capabilities-driven customer solutions. Headquartered in St.
Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $32.4 billion
business with 72,000 employees worldwide.