AURORA, Colo. (AP) — The Defense Department has awarded a $7.2 million contract to Raytheon Co. in Aurora for work on the Global Positioning System.

The contract was announced Tuesday.

The Defense Department says the contract is for work on the Next Generation Operational Control System for GPS.

The work will be done in Aurora and is scheduled for completion by the end of next year.

GPS was designed for the military and now has widespread civilian uses as well. The system is operated by the Air Force Space Command’s 2nd Space Operations Squadron at Schriever Air Force Base outside Colorado Springs.

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