The Air Force and its industry partners successfully launched a modernized Global Positioning System Block IIR satellite built by Lockheed Martin into space March 15 from Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla., the company announced. The satellite, designated GPS IIR-19M, is the sixth of eight modernized GPS IIR satellites that Lockheed Martin has built and subsequently upgraded to provide increased signal power for users, along with greater accuracy and resistance to jamming. The mission was the third consecutive successful launch of a GPS IIR-M satellite in less than five months, according to Lockheed Martin. The remaining two Block IIR-M satellites are also scheduled to go into orbit this year.
Members of the House Armed Services Committee say the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile program has been set back three months due to the ongoing government shutdown. The comment is noteworthy because the JATM's status has been kept tightly under wraps.

