GPS World

Tag: PNT solution

  • Curtiss-Wright offers VPX3-673A module for A-PNT

    Curtiss-Wright offers VPX3-673A module for A-PNT

    Photo:
    Image: Curtiss-Wright

    In October 2022, Curtiss-Wright Corporation’s Defense Solutions division, a supplier of modular open system approach-based solutions, released the VPX3-673A module. This module is the first to deliver assured position, navigation and timing (A-PNT) along with alternative RF navigation and pntOS architecture.

    The VPX3-673A is a rugged, 3U OpenVPX, form factor module, which integrates with existing navigation sensors in vehicles operating in environments with limited or denied access to GPS, to increase assurance in the platform’s PNT solutions. It is designed to ingest positioning and timing data from multiple sensors and output accurate timing and navigation information on the battlefield using VICTORY data messages.

    It is compatible with the United States Army’s C5ISR/EW Modular Open Suite of Standards and aligned with the Sensor Open Systems Architecture Technical Standard 1.0.

    VPX3-673A includes a low noise chip-scale atomic clock with intelligence provided by Xilinx MPSoc, an alternative RF navigation receiver and a 10-degree of freedom IMU. It supports an internal or external GPS module via a front panel connector. Additionally, the VPX3-673A provides processing resources and sensor interface capabilities needed for operability with a variety of external processing and sensor units.

  • Raytheon M-code receiver deployment underway

    Logo: Raytheon Technologies

    In 2019, the U.S. Air Force certified the security architecture of Raytheon Intelligence & Space’s M-code modules and receivers as providers of secure and reliable access to modernized GPS. The resilient receivers are designed for high anti-jam performance.

    Raytheon’s M-code application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) chip is either integrated into a ground-based receiver card optimized for low dynamic applications, or used as an avionics/naval receiver card to support multiple end users.

    “Our focus is on taking a comprehensive approach to resilient navigation,” explained Chad Pillsbury, director for Raytheon’s Secure Sensor Solutions. “We provide the complete family of PNT solutions. We start with the fundamental components, like the ASIC chip, and tailor our solution for the platform and mission requirements.”

    Open Architecture. Raytheon successfully completed testing of the first M-code receiver onboard the U.S. Air Force’s B-2 bomber in 2017. “Since then, we’ve undergone a number of tests internally and with third-parties. Our M-code receivers have standard interfaces and open architecture protocols, enabling them to work with both U.S. and allied systems. By pairing our M-code receiver with our anti-jam electronics and antenna, our systems enable warfighters to combat the most advanced threats seen in the world today,” Pilsbury said.

    The receiver is planned to be incorporated into many fighters, bombers and weapons systems across the U.S. Department of Defense. “We provide enhanced anti-jam, anti-spoof GPS capabilities, as well as alternate navigation and multi-constellation support that represent a significant improvement over the systems currently used by today’s warfighters,” Pillsbury said.

    Meeting Advancing Threats. “The hardest part is meeting a changing threat target,” Pillsbury explained. “The fact is the threat is advancing at a rapid rate. Because of that, challenges are constantly evolving.

    “That means we had to design solutions that were simultaneously robust and secure, but also flexible and open so we can continually upgrade them. That’s not an easy thing to do.

    “But, by taking a comprehensive approach that looked at the whole problem rather than just part of it, we’ve developed systems that address these challenges and have the flexibility to address future challenges.”

    Raytheon’s M-code products are now available to the U.S. military and its allies in accordance with International Traffic in Arms Regulations and the U.S. State Department.

  • Industry perspective: Next-gen PNT needs careful assessment

    Industry perspective: Next-gen PNT needs careful assessment

    With the first GPS Block III satellite SVN 74 being set as healthy and active in January, GPS has reached another important milestone. Setting the vehicle healthy and active makes the satellite available for use by military and civilian GPS users around the world. GPS has been a hugely successful system, consistently exceeding its performance specification and providing users with levels of accuracy and availability that would have seemed astonishing only a few short years ago.

    Despite these successes, the limitations of GPS and other GNSS have been highlighted by a catalog of real-world well-documented jamming and spoofing incidents, some of which have had serious impacts. With this increase of incidents, the military and commercial worlds have become increasingly aware of the vulnerabilities of sole reliance on GNSS. Interference with GNSS is a critical risk to not only business continuity, but to the safety of the world.

    Image: Spirent Federal
    Image: Spirent Federal

    Simply trusting the output from a GNSS receiver without question is no longer acceptable in safety- or liability-critical applications. The focus of many manufacturers and developers has been on assuring the integrity of reported GNSS PNT data.

    Recently, more systems have begun using non-GNSS data sources to augment the GNSS solution. A GNSS receiver becomes one of the many sensors used in a system that combines their inputs to provide an assured, trustworthy source of precise positioning and timing data even when GNSS is disrupted. There are also active global initiatives in both commercial and military domains worldwide to seek and develop direct replacements for GNSS-based navigation and timing systems.These systems eliminate the use of GNSS completely and are termed “alternative navigation systems.”

    Whether assured, augmented or alternative, these PNT systems need careful assessment. Their performance, robustness and resilience need to be measured in normal conditions and with interference.

    Spirent is actively working to develop new, relevant test frameworks and designing the next generation of PNT test equipment that can easily integrate with and assess more than one technology. From inertial integrated with GPS to a number of alternative PNT systems that are being analyzed by the U.S. government, Spirent is working to unlock the maximum benefits of the next generation of PNT solutions.

    Roger Hart, director of engineering, joined Spirent Federal in 2015. He has worked in development of spacecraft navigation systems, including GPS, for civil, NASA and defense applications since 1986. Guy Buesnel is Spirent’s specialist PNT Security Technologist covering the areas of PNT threats and mitigation.

  • Safran and Orolia launch global resilient PNT partnership

    Safran and Orolia launch global resilient PNT partnership

    Logo: Orolia

    Safran and Orolia are partnering to offer the latest resilient positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) solutions for military forces, especially in GNSS-denied environments.

    This partnership will provide mission-critical equipment for air, land, sea and space programs in environments where GNSS signals are not available or degraded. Whether the outage is unintentional or intentional (jamming, meaconing or spoofing), the Safran-Orolia partnership will provide an alternative to GNSS-dependent military systems.

    The Safran-Orolia team will offer military forces an unparalleled convergence of PNT capabilities, including Orolia’s portfolio of precise timing references and PNT sensor-fusion technology, as well as Safran’s proven defense inertial navigation solutions. Initial program priorities include navigation warfare (NAVWAR), along with mobile and fixed PNT solutions.

    “Today’s military operations are increasingly mobile and global, with mission priorities that often bring them into territories where GNSS jamming and spoofing are becoming common threats,” said Orolia CEO Jean-Yves Courtois. “We’re proud to introduce this unique resilient PNT military partnership to better protect and enable mobile operations for NATO and allied countries worldwide.”

    “In a world full of uncertainty, our partnership will provide autonomous and sovereign PNT solutions to Armed Forces facing harsh GNSS denied environments,” said Safran Electronics & Defense Chief Executive Officer Martin Sion.

    Orolia’s PNT solutions improve the reliability, performance and safety of critical, remote or high-risk operations. With locations in more than 100 countries, Orolia provides virtually failsafe GNSS and PNT solutions to support military and commercial applications worldwide.

    Safran is an international high-technology group, operating in the aircraft propulsion and equipment, space and defense markets. Safran has a global presence, with more than 92,000 employees and sales of 21 billion euros in 2018.