GPS World

Tag: military navigation

  • UK’s DASA explores GNSS alternatives for military navigation

    UK’s DASA explores GNSS alternatives for military navigation

    Image: UK DASA
    Image: UK DASA

    The United Kingdom’s Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) has launched a new Market Exploration called Alternative Navigation for Weapon Systems, which aims to explore alternatives to GNSS for military navigation.

    The Market Exploration is being run on behalf of Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) and seeks to understand the range of technologies used for commercial positioning and navigation systems.

    GNSS such as GPS and Galileo are widely used for commercial and military positioning and navigation, but these systems are vulnerable to jamming and spoofing. DASA wants to explore alternative navigation technologies that could be developed and trialed within the next three years.

    The potential system should:

    • be developed to an operational level in either a civilian or on military application
    • currently be at a Technology Readiness Level of 4 or above.
    • not be solely reliant on GNSS.
    • have the potential to be further developed to meet military specifications.
    • have sufficient accuracy to monitor position during deployment to within 5 meters.

    The agency is particularly interested in innovations from non-traditional defence suppliers and has a dedicated team of DASA Innovation Partners who can discuss proposals with submitters.

    The deadline to submit proposals is April 7.

  • KVH Receives $1.5M Order for TACNAV Systems

    KVH Receives $1.5M Order for TACNAV Systems

    Credit: U.S. Armed Services.
    Credit: U.S. Armed Services.

    KVH Industries Inc. has received a $1.5 million contract for the delivery of tactical navigation systems for use by an international military customer in an armored vehicle application. A variant of KVH’s TACNAV TLS and TACNAV Light, the system is designed to help military vehicle crews maintain 100% situational awareness. The hardware shipments for this order are expected to be made in 2015. Program management and engineering services will be provided as part of this order.

    “KVH’s TACNAV navigation solution is an important tool for U.S. and allied warfighters, providing precision navigation as well as coordination of vehicles in critical situations,” said Dan Conway, executive vice president of KVH’s guidance and stabilization group. “The system serves as a crucial resource for navigation and battle management, keeping soldiers safe and out of harm’s way wherever they travel. This new order reaffirms the value of KVH’s TACNAV products for international militaries, and adds to our backlog for the year.”

    The TACNAV TLS by KVH Industries.
    The TACNAV TLS by KVH Industries.

    All of KVH’s TACNAV military vehicle navigation systems provide unjammable precision navigation, heading, and pointing data for vehicle drivers, crews and commanders, KVH Industries said. TACNAV can also serve as a heading and position source for situational awareness.

    The TACNAV system ordered combines characteristics of TACNAV TLS and TACNAV Light, and features a compact design, continuous heading and pointing data output, and a flexible architecture that allows it to function as either a standalone navigation module or as the heart of an expanded, multifunctional TACNAV system. The system is designed to integrate with battle management systems and is a vital component for effective battlefield management, KVH Industries said.

    TACNAV systems are in use by the U.S. Army and Marine Corps, as well as many allied customers including Canada, Sweden, Great Britain, France, Germany, Spain, Egypt, Botswana, Australia, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Romania, Poland, Turkey, Malaysia, Switzerland, South Korea, Singapore, Brazil and Italy.