GPS World

Tag: M-code

  • Oscilloquartz series provides timing for mission-critical harsh environments

    Oscilloquartz series provides timing for mission-critical harsh environments

    Oscilloquartz has launched its ruggedSync Series OSA 5510, a ruggedized timing and synchronization platform engineered for defense and other harsh, mission-critical environments.

    The OSA 5510 is designed for deployment in tactical communications networks, mobile command centers, aviation systems and other highly demanding operational environments. It combines PTP grandmaster and NTP server functionality with synchronization assurance and resilient holdover in a compact military (MIL)-qualified platform.

    Multi-band GNSS support, encrypted and authenticated timing options, and environmental protection enable operation in contested and GNSS-denied environments where trusted synchronization must be maintained.

    Built to support resilient defense timing architectures, the OSA 5510 integrates advanced synchronization technologies and flexible mission-critical interfaces within a hardened platform compliant with MIL-STD-810H and MIL-STD-461G. The solution supports IEEE 1588v2 PTP, SyncE and secure NTP services, while programmable I/O and timecode interfaces, including STANAG, Have Quick, IRIG and PPS/CLK distribution, support diverse defense payloads and operational requirements. Optical and copper SFP/SFP+ 1G/10G interfaces and dual power feeds further enable deployment across modern high-bandwidth defense networks.

    The ruggedSync Series OSA 5510 strengthens multi-source resilience through zero-trust architecture, with support for M-code, Galileo PRS and Iridium STL. Extended holdover, low phase-noise outputs, and jamming and spoofing detection and mitigation help maintain continuity during GNSS degradation or disruption, while White Rabbit readiness supports advanced timing distribution use cases.

    The launch also builds on Oscilloquartz’s expanding global aerospace, defense and government partnerships, including regional representative and VAR relationships supporting resilient timing and assured PNT deployments across the Americas, EMEA and Asia-Pacific.

  • Viavi introduces GNSS-disciplined oscillator for precision timing in low SWaP platforms

    Viavi introduces GNSS-disciplined oscillator for precision timing in low SWaP platforms

    Viavi Solutions has launched the µPNT GDO-1000, a GNSS-disciplined oscillator built in the M.2 B-key form factor, suitable for low size, weight and power (SWaP) platforms.

    Measuring 22 x 42 mm (the size of a postage stamp) and weighing less than 4 grams, the GDO-1000 is designed for platforms requiring accurate timing in places where traditional timing modules do not fit or are too power-hungry, including defense and airborne platforms, unmanned systems, data center cards, and communications equipment.

    The µPNT GDO-1000 addresses these challenges through a combination of capabilities:

    • Dual-frequency L1/L5 GNSS reception with microsecond-class 24-hour holdover enables precise, resilient timing in compromised conditions.
    • The M.2 B-key form factor drops into modern compute platforms, time appliance cards, and embedded systems without custom mechanical design, drawing approximately half a watt.
    • Patented AI and ML algorithms developed by the Jackson Labs team, now part of VIAVI, predict and compensate for oscillator behavior across environmental conditions
    • The microelectro-mechanical systems (MEMS) oscillator delivers better thermal stability across the full military temperature range than traditional quartz oven-controlled crystal oscillators (OCXOs), with sustained phase noise and Allan Deviation performance under vibration and shock
    • It accepts an external 1PPS input, allowing it to be disciplined by M-code GPS, alternative navigation sources, or other external references without hardware modification
    • Multiple 1PPS and low-phase-noise 10MHz coaxial inputs and outputs for system integration flexibility, despite its miniature size.

    The GDO-1000 will be on display by Viavi at booth 407 during the 2026 Joint Navigation Conference, taking place June 1-4 at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center. As part of the event technical program, Lisa Perdue and Nino De Falcis of Viavi will speak on a “New Cesium-Less ePRTC Solution to Provide Timing for Homeland Critical Infrastructure.”

  • Next-gen GPS IIIF satellites take shape

    Next-gen GPS IIIF satellites take shape

    Lockheed Martin has successfully completed the core mate phase of GPS IIIF Space Vehicle 11 ( SV11), a critical production milestone that marks the satellite’s formal “birth.”  

    Continued manufacturing and deployment of these next-generation GPS spacecraft is essential to maintaining reliable global coverage, with the GPS IIIF block introducing a suite of new capabilities that further strengthens the constellation’s resilience. GPS IIIF satellites are equipped with Regional Military Protection, improving anti-jamming capability by more than sixty times, giving warfighters a decisive edge against sophisticated electronic warfare threats. 

    GPS IIIF SV11 is the third GPS IIIF satellite to complete the core mate phase, after SV13 and SV14 completed core mate last year. GPS IIIF SV11 will be the first IIIF satellite to launch. 

    “Core mate of SV11 showcases the production momentum behind the next-generation GPS IIIF satellites as we continue to invest in advanced manufacturing,” said Christina Mancinelli, vice president of Global Communications & Navigation at Lockheed Martin. “With three GPS IIIF satellites past core mate, we’ve taken pivotal steps toward accelerating production, ensuring we’re delivering critical next-generation resiliency capabilities to the GPS constellation at the pace warfighters need to protect our nation.” 

    The SV11 satellite is also M-code-enabled, providing an encrypted, anti-spoofing signal that strengthens positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) capabilities for military users globally. Additionally, SV11 is equipped with a new search-and-rescue payload that will allow first responders to navigate to emergencies in remote locations.  

    With an eye on strengthening GPS, all GPS IIIF satellites starting with SV13 will be built on the evolved LM2100 Combat Bus, which adds additional cyber-hardening and improved spacecraft power, propulsion and electronics. These vehicles are equipped with extra size, weight and power, providing flexibility to integrate additional payloads quickly onto future space vehicles.

    GPS IIIF satellites are manufactured at Lockheed Martin’s Denver, Colorado, facility, where the company is accelerating production through the use of augmented reality and digital twins. Lockheed Martin is currently under contract through GPS IIIF SV22 and recently completed all launches of GPS III space vehicles. 

  • BAE Systems begins production, deliveries of NavGuide GPS receiver

    BAE Systems begins production, deliveries of NavGuide GPS receiver

    BAE Systems has entered production and started initial deliveries of its NavGuide GPS receiver, a portable, field-installable device designed to provide secure positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) for vehicle, handheld and sensor applications.

    NavGuide serves as a drop-in M-code upgrade to the company’s Defense Advanced GPS Receiver (DAGR), which has concluded production after more than 20 years in service. The new receiver is backward-compatible with existing DAGR installations and is designed for rapid integration into current mounts and accessories without interrupting operations. It is available to U.S. armed forces and allied partners through foreign military sales.

    “NavGuide is more than just a replacement for DAGR,” said Luke Bishop, director of navigation and sensor systems at BAE Systems. “Built on the same trusted foundation for easy installation and transition, it delivers a more resilient, user-friendly M-code GPS solution.”

    NavGuide uses the military’s M-code GPS signal to enhance protection against jamming and spoofing while delivering reliable PNT in challenging environments. The compact receiver features a full-color user interface with waypoint navigation and a moving map display.

    More than 650,000 DAGR units have been deployed worldwide since 2004. NavGuide maintains the same form, fit and function, while adding enhanced security and performance. BAE Systems said it has integrated NavGuide on more than 30 vehicle platforms, with installation averaging less than two minutes and requiring no changes to existing cables, mounts or vehicle software.

    The company will continue to support legacy DAGR units.

    BAE Systems has delivered selective availability anti-spoofing modules to more than 45 countries and has begun fielding M-code GPS receivers in multiple form factors for U.S. and allied forces.

    Development and production of the company’s military GPS products take place at its engineering and manufacturing facility in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

  • Honeywell authorized for US M-code military navigation solution

    Honeywell authorized for US M-code military navigation solution

    Honeywell has received U.S. government authorization for the remaining variants of its M-code GPS Inertial Navigation System (EGI), which will help enable more secure and precise navigation for military aircraft worldwide.

    Honeywell was awarded the MSO-c145b authorization by the Precise Position Equipment Certification Office (PECO) for its smaller form factor embedded GPS EGI, known as the FALCN. Honeywell received the same authorization for its large form factor system last year.

    With this new qualification, all of Honeywell’s EGI offerings are certified and approved by the U.S. government, and it can now offer solutions on platforms such as the collaborative combat aircraft and fixed-wing advanced fighters.

    Reliable on-board navigation systems, such as the GPS EGI, are critical to ensuring mission success and operational safety for military and civilian operators. These systems are not just tools for determining location, but essential for strategic planning, coordination and effective execution of tasks, especially in complex and high-risk environments. Accurate navigation enables personnel to operate with precision, even in GPS-denied or contested areas, contributing directly to the safety and effectiveness of military operations.

    “Our innovative EGI offerings will enable aircraft platforms to meet the latest M-code mandates and to navigate both in contested environments and off of GPS constellations with military waveforms, all while protecting warfighters with the most advanced technology in the market,” said Matt Picchetti, vice president and general manager, Honeywell Aerospace.

    The advent of GPS M-code receivers is the greatest advance in military positioning, navigation and timing since GPS was originally fielded in the early 1980s. With Honeywell’s FALCN-M now upgraded with M-code capability, aviators will be protected from GPS jamming and spoofing threats, further enabling them to confidently conduct military operations in highly contested environments.

    Honeywell is a leader in EGI technologies for military applications and, since the mid-1990s, has provided more than 60,000 EGI units for fighter, transport, vertical takeoff and landing, and rotary-wing aircraft — spanning more than 70 aircraft types to more than 30 allied countries. Honeywell’s EGI family includes the H-764, in use on most military aircraft, and the FALCN, providing all the features and performance of the H-764 in a smaller package. The H-764 legacy offering uses a larger chassis to maintain commonality with legacy aircraft.

  • Safran’s Skylight GNSS receiver enhances PNT resilience with Galileo PRS and M-code

    Safran’s Skylight GNSS receiver enhances PNT resilience with Galileo PRS and M-code

    Safran Electronics & Defense has launched Skylight, a multi-mode military GNSS receiver designed to withstand electronic warfare threats. The company unveiled the new receiver at the Paris Air Show, describing it as a compact and resilient GNSS solution with high integrity.

    Skylight is notable for being the first GNSS receiver to be flight-tested with compatibility for Galileo Public Regulated Service (PRS). Its performance was validated during flight trials aboard a combat aircraft. The receiver delivers encrypted, spoofing-resistant PRS signals, designed to enhance security for operations in contested environments.

    The device is also compatible with M-code, ensuring interoperability with U.S. and allied military systems. Additionally, Skylight features a certified civil GPS channel, enabling navigation in civil airspace when necessary. According to Safran, this feature eliminates the need for a separate civil GPS receiver, resulting in weight and cost savings for platform integrators.

    Skyligh also incorporates advanced anti-jamming and anti-spoofing algorithms that have been proven through more than 16,000 operational cases. The receiver is designed to operate with anti-jamming antennas and is fully compatible with the SkyNaute inertial navigation system, allowing for integration into resilient positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) architectures.

    Alexandre Ziegler, executive vice president for the Defense Global Business Unit at Safran Electronics & Defense, said the company already counts two leading aerospace manufacturers among the first adopters of Skylight, including Airbus Helicopters, which has selected the H225M platform to be equipped with the receiver.

    “In an era where PNT resilience is critical, Skylight delivers agility, precision and reliability with a standalone, multi-constellation GNSS receiver whose robustness is strengthened by our expertise in defensive Navwar,” Ziegler said.

  • BAE Systems unveils comprehensive line of M-Code GPS receivers

    BAE Systems unveils comprehensive line of M-Code GPS receivers

    BAE Systems unveiled a diverse line of M-code GPS receivers at the Joint Navigation Conference in Cincinnati, rounding out an extensive line of products that ensure U.S. warfighters have the most dependable GPS systems available across sea, land and air.

    M-code is a military GPS signal designed to improve anti-jamming capabilities and provide enhanced security. BAE Systems’ security-certified Common GPS Modules (CGMs) leverage the robust M-code signal across an all-inclusive GPS receiver line. The portfolio scales from the world’s smallest and lowest-power M-code GPS for size, weight, and power (SWaP)-challenged applications, to highly robust receivers with integrated anti-jam antenna electronics for exceptionally challenging environments. 

    BAE Systems’ diverse line of M-code receivers are next-generation GPS solutions for airborne, weapon, and ground platforms, including handheld form factors. This includes:

    • ASR-M
    • DIGAR-300M
    • MPE-M
    • MicroGRAM-M
    • NavFire-M
    • NavGuide
    • NavStrike-M
    • NavStorm-M
    • SABR-M

    The company anticipates deliveries of the NavGuide handheld to customers will begin this year. 

    BAE Systems is also set to deliver a future generation of GPS products based on Military GPS User Equipment (MGUE) Increment 2 technology, developed as part of the MGUE Increment 2 Miniature Serial Interface (MSI) program. The technology will improve the performance of military position, navigation, and timing (PNT) equipment and provide resilience against attacks on GPS signals.

    BAE Systems has provided selective availability anti-spoofing module products to more than 45 countries and is delivering M-code GPS receivers in multiple form factors and levels of capability to the U.S. armed forces and its allies through foreign military sales. 

    For more on BAE Systems’ military GPS solutions, please visit: https://baesystems.com/gps

  • GPS III SV-07 becomes operational

    GPS III SV-07 becomes operational

    The U.S. Space Force transferred Satellite Control Authority of the GPS III Space Vehicle 07 (SV-07) to the 2nd Navigation Warfare Squadron, Mission Delta 31, at Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado. The satellite became operational and available to global users on Jan. 22, 2025 — expanding the GPS constellation to 31 active vehicles. The transfer is the first instance in which the Satellite Control Authority moved from the acquisition program to the operations squadron within a single Delta, reflecting the new mission delta structure. 

    The space vehicle was launched on Dec. 16, 2024, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket as part of a Rapid Response Trailblazer mission. The operation involved retrieving an existing GPS III satellite from storage, expediting integration and launch vehicle preparation, and swiftly processing the satellite for launch. 

    The entire process, from initiation to launch, was completed in approximately three months, significantly shorter than the typical six-month pre-launch processing timeline. This accelerated timeline was achieved through collaboration between multiple Space Force organizations and partner agencies.

    The GPS III SV-07 satellite is equipped with M-code, designed to improve anti-jamming and anti-spoofing capabilities, enhancing secure access to military GPS signals. This launch contributes to the ongoing modernization of the GPS constellation following the launch of GPS III SV06 in 2023. Mission Delta 31, activated on Oct. 15, 2024, is responsible for providing, operating, and sustaining high-integrity positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) capabilities. It comprises three squadrons and one detachment, including the 2nd Navigation Warfare Squadron, which operates the GPS satellite constellation.

  • BAE Systems completes critical design review for M-Code GPS receiver

    BAE Systems completes critical design review for M-Code GPS receiver

    Image: BAE Systems
    Image: BAE Systems

    BAE Systems has completed the Critical Design Review (CDR) for its Military GPS User Equipment (MGUE) Increment 2 Miniature Serial Interface (MSI) program. This development is part of a $247 million contract awarded in 2020 by the U.S. Space Force.

    The MGUE Increment 2 MSI program is centered on the integration of a next-generation application specific integrated circuit (NG ASIC), which aims to improve the security and performance of M-Code technology. M-Code is designed to resist jamming and spoofing, which is crucial for military GPS applications. The NG ASIC technology also ensures compatibility with future BAE Systems M-Code GPS receivers.

    The MGUE Increment 2 program’s objectives include the development of an advanced, security-certified M-Code NG ASIC. This component is intended to provide reliable positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) in GPS-challenged environments, incorporate multi-GNSS) robustness, and reduce power consumption for military applications in airborne, maritime, and ground domains.

    Additionally, the program aims to develop a small form-factor MSI GNSS receiver for applications that require low size, weight, and power (SWaP).

    The program is on track for completion in 2025, with deployment planned for the U.S. and its allies. The development is being conducted at BAE Systems’ facility in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

  • First Fix: Still waiting for M-Code

    First Fix: Still waiting for M-Code

    Max Weber famously described how bureaucratic inertia often leads formal organizations, such as government agencies, to devise new justifications for themselves after they have outlived their original purpose. That is certainly not the case for the U.S. Space Force, which is in its infancy and is responsible for key missions, including operating the Global Positioning System that it took over from the United States Air Force about two years ago.

    However, bureaucratic inertia can also refer to the tendency of organizations to continue to pursue projects or approaches that may no longer be the best match for their goals, missions, or budgets. A recent, congressionally-mandated report by the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) — Report to Congressional Committees, GPS MODERNIZATION: Space Force Should Reassess Requirements for Satellites and Handheld Devices, issued in June — questions the Space Force’s approach to modernizing GPS with a more jam-resistant, military-specific signal known as M-code.

    In 2005, the Air Force launched the first GPS satellite capable of broadcasting the M-code signal, which is at the core of a multi-billion-dollar modernization and sustainment effort. Yet, 18 years later, widespread adoption of the technology is still hampered by delays in upgrading GPS ground and user equipment. Approximately 700 types of weapon systems — including ground vehicles, ships and aircraft — will ultimately require M-code-capable user equipment.

    Providing M-code requires the cooperation of GPS’ ground, space and user equipment segments. Regarding the first one, the report states: “In 2022, Space Force further delayed delivery of the ground control segment due to development challenges. This delay pushes delivery until December 2023 at a minimum. Space Force officials have not finalized a new schedule and acknowledged that remaining risks could lead to additional delays.”

    Regarding the space segment, it states: “Space Force met its approved requirement for 24 M-code-capable satellites on orbit but determined that it needs at least three more to meet certain user requirements for accuracy. Building and maintaining this larger constellation presents a challenge. GAO’s analysis indicates it is not likely that 27 satellites will be available on a consistent basis over the next decade.”

    Finally, regarding the user segment, it notes that development of the Military GPS User Equipment (MGUE) Increment 1 has progressed “to the point where the military departments are ready to commence activities in support of testing and fielding it on the lead weapon systems.” However, it cautions that “[d]elays and unexpected challenges could affect the fielding of capability for some systems.”

    GAO’s report recommends that the United States Department of Defense (DOD) assess the number of GPS satellites necessary to meet operational needs, and either develop a sound business case for the M-code-capable Increment 2 handheld, or not initiate the effort. The DOD concurred with both recommendations.

    “Who Runs GPS?”, the special feature in our February 2023 issue, which detailed the structure of this vast enterprise, listed an executive committee, a coordination office, an oversight council, two Space Force commands, and, as partners, several federal departments and agencies. Has this complex structure become too diffuse to make tough decisions?

    Matteo Luccio | Editor-in-Chief
    [email protected]

  • Northrop Grumman completes successful test flight of airborne navigation system

    Northrop Grumman completes successful test flight of airborne navigation system

     

    Image: Northrop Grumman
    Image: Northrop Grumman

    Northrop Grumman has conducted a successful flight test of its advanced airborne navigation solution, embedded GPS/INS modernization, known as EGI-M. It is the first time that EGI-M, equipped with an M-code capable receiver, has been tested in flight.

    Testing took place in May aboard a testbed aircraft. Flight test data confirmed that Northrop Grumman’s prototype EGI-M solution, the M-code-capable LN-351, performed at standards equal to its current LN-251 INS/GPS system, featuring modern fiber optic gyro technology.

    Critical design review for EGI-M was completed in 2020. Launch platforms for Northrop Grumman’s EGI-M include the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye and the F-22 Raptor. The fully operational EGI-M system will feature a modular platform interface, designed to integrate with current platform navigation systems — supporting advanced software and hardware technology upgrades.

  • Editorial Advisory Board Q&A: NATO Galileo and GPS integration

    Editorial Advisory Board Q&A: NATO Galileo and GPS integration

    How do/will/should North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces integrate GPS and Galileo for position, navigation and time?

    Ellen Hall
    Ellen Hall

     

    “For improved resiliency, it would be a great move for NATO to integrate Galileo with GPS into their system. The ‘how’ will be difficult. Some of the challenges are that the EU consists of more than a single nation with which to negotiate complex security issues, such as whether NATO will be treated as a ‘third nation entity’ for the use of PRS. The initial Galileo development was difficult for all these reasons and the Europeans managed to sort it all out, so I’m confident that, if the desire is to do this, it can be done successfully.”

    — Ellen Hall
    Imminent Federal

     

    Photo: Orolia
    John Fischer

     

    “In the interest of operational robustness and the criticality of the use case, NATO should integrate GPS and Galileo capability at the earliest. Both GPS’ M-code and Galileo’s PRS are encrypted, providing anti-spoof capability and extra frequency diversity, making jamming of our forces more difficult. Crypto key management for both systems may be an extra burden, but a single receiver capable of operating with either system individually or both simultaneously would be key for interoperability — always a driving factor for NATO. The capability is available, and NATO should take advantage of it.”

    — John Fischer
    Orolia