US Air Force Assumes Control of Military GPS User Equipment (MGUE) Program

The U.S. Air Force has taken full ownership of the Military GPS User Equipment (MGUE) Increment 1 and Increment 2 programs from the Space Force. The transfer, formalized on May 28 and completed in early 2026, moves responsibility for developing and fielding resilient M‑code GPS receivers to the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC), while the Space Force retains control of the satellite and ground segments of the GPS system. MGUE aims to produce hardened GPS receiver hardware, chips, antennas and software that can be integrated into aircraft, ships, ground vehicles and weapons, enabling reliable use of the encrypted M‑code signal under combat conditions. The transition is part of a broader GPS modernization effort that includes the Next Generation Operational Control System (OCX) and the Maritime/Aviation Receiver Card (MAVRC).