Con las amenazas cibern\u00e9ticas (creciendo exponencialmente)\u00a0 a la infraestructura militar, civil, corporativa y financiera \u00a0,\u00a0 es cr\u00edtico que el sistema GPS est\u00e9\u00a0 protegido contra hackers, interrupciones o transacciones de se\u00f1al e informaci\u00f3n.\u00a0Uno de los principales desaf\u00edos de GPS actuales es que el actual sistema de control operacional no puede procesar los \u00faltimos tipos de se\u00f1ales de navegaci\u00f3n para permitir que est\u00e9n operativamente disponibles para los usuarios militares y civiles de GPS. Aunque hay casi una docena de sat\u00e9lites en \u00f3rbita capaces de transmitir la nueva se\u00f1al militar M-code, el actual sistema de control no es capaz de ponerlos en l\u00ednea.\u00a0El nuevo sistema GPS OCX ser\u00e1 10 veces m\u00e1s preciso y\u00a0 estar\u00e1 \u00a0a la vanguardia de la implementaci\u00f3n de los Est\u00e1ndares de Aseguramiento de la Informaci\u00f3n DODI 8500.2 que proporcionan un control de seguridad en\u00a0 profundidad para proteger la misi\u00f3n GPS<\/p>\n
The next-generation operational control system, known as OCX, reached what is called a Nunn-McCurdy breach, June 30, 2016. The Nunn-McCurdy provision applies to weapons programs and requires the military services to notify Congress if a program\u2019s cost per unit increases 25 percent or more over the current baseline estimate.<\/p>\n
But well before June 30, defense acquisition experts began working with Raytheon, the contractor for OCX, to resolve program issues. In December 2015, Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Frank Kendall directed in-depth quarterly reviews, including a series of \u201cdeep dives\u201d overseen by him. Certification activities began in July 2016, and culminated with Kendall certifying the program to Congress yesterday, thus allowing the program to continue.<\/p>\n
Next-Generation GPS<\/strong><\/p>\n James MacStravic, acting assistant secretary of defense for acquisition, discussed OCX and its importance with DoD News.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is what the controllers on the ground are going to use to make sure that all the satellites are talking to each other, that they\u2019re exchanging the same information [and] that they\u2019re where they\u2019re supposed to be,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The OCX system will command all modernized and legacy GPS satellites, manage all civil and military navigation signals and provide improved cybersecurity and resilience for the next generation of GPS operations.<\/p>\n The OCX program includes the following phases: Block 0, to perform launch and checkout of GPS-III satellites; Block 1, to command all navigation signals, including the modernized military signal; and Block 2, for additional enhancements to signal assurance and navigation warfare capabilities. The ground segment capability not only supports military forces, but also civil, commercial and scientific uses. The current total program cost estimate for OCX is $5.46 billion.<\/p>\n OCX will consist of:<\/p>\n — A master control station and alternate master control station;<\/p>\n — Dedicated monitor stations;<\/p>\n — Ground antennas;<\/p>\n — GPS system simulator; and<\/p>\n — Standardized space trainer<\/p>\n Turning the Program Around<\/strong><\/p>\n Defense officials said factors in the OCX cost growth included late recognition of the magnitude of information assurance work that was required, concurrent systems engineering that drove significant rework, inconsistent configuration management of the program baselines, immature software and a lack of automation across the program. These issues drove schedule slips, which in turn increased the cost of the program, leading to the breach.<\/p>\n MacStravic described the efforts defense officials and Raytheon have made to turn the program around. He emphasized the work has included the personal involvement of Kendall, Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James and Raytheon\u2019s chief executive officer.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat we spent the summer doing was making sure \u2026 does this program have the right management resources, the right financial resources and an appropriate schedule to succeed?\u201d MacStravic said.<\/p>\n Officials report that after three on-site quarterly reviews, Kendall\u2019s assessment is that Raytheon is making substantial progress on the program, but that some additional schedule increase has occurred and that there is risk of more schedule increases.<\/p>\n Progress has been sufficient to support certification under the Nunn-McCurdy process, officials said. Kendall\u2019s office will continue the OCX quarterly reviews begun in March 2016, which to date have included the secretary and principal deputy acquisition chief of the Air Force, the program executive officer and Raytheon\u2019s chief executive officer.<\/p>\n The alternatives to certifying the program included several options, including program termination, but this was deemed simply unworkable, due to the extended time it would require to design and field a new ground system for the vital GPS III network.<\/p>\n According to officials, the future of the OCX program will depend upon Raytheon\u2019s ability to demonstrate that it can deliver the needed capability to the Air Force at acceptable cost and within an acceptable time.<\/p>\n