GPS World

Tag: TrustPoint

  • TrustPoint secures USSF contract to demonstrate GPS-independent PNT

    TrustPoint has been awarded a $4 million Tactical Funding Increase (TACFI) contract to demonstrate a GPS-independent positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) system.

    The award was issued by SpaceWERX, the innovation arm of the United States Space Force, and jointly funded by the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program and the Commercial Space Office (COMSO). It supports a full end-to-end demonstration of TrustPoint’s resilient navigation architecture designed for defense and commercial applications.

    Under the contract, TrustPoint will design, deploy and operate a fully integrated PNT system comprising four satellites and four ground stations, delivering a complete operational architecture. The program will execute an end-to-end system demonstration, including live trilateration across multiple space and ground assets, operational services and advanced receivers.

    With an accelerated execution timeline, initial system deployments will occur within 12 months, establishing a rapid deployment model designed to scale to significantly larger constellations while prioritizing affordability, operational relevance, and capital efficiency.

    “We founded TrustPoint on the belief that resilient navigation does not require billion-dollar constellations,” said Patrick Shannon, founder and CEO of TrustPoint. “This program will prove our technology’s GPS independence while demonstrating that real, operational PNT capability can be delivered with exceptional capital efficiency.”

    Beyond GPS-independent C-band demonstrations, the system will validate a software-defined architecture that supports on-demand reconfiguration of navigation services in contested, degraded and denied environments, pioneering commercial delivery of this capability. TrustPoint’s experience includes the first C-band GNSS signal transmission with real-time reception and the first broadcast-based ground-to-space C-band PNT demonstration.

    The program directly advances national security objectives. It also establishes a scalable foundation for future commercial services, redefining what is possible for users who require reliable PNT in GPS-challenged environments.

  • TrustPoint accelerates defense-grade, GPS-independent PNT with Phase II SBIR award

    TrustPoint accelerates defense-grade, GPS-independent PNT with Phase II SBIR award

    Contract strengthens the company’s growing portfolio of U.S. government-funded PNT initiatives

    TrustPoint has been awarded a  $1.9 million Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Direct-to-Phase II contract focused on adapting and upgrading TrustPoint’s commercial C-band positioning navigation and timing (PNT) payload to integrate with U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) architectures and meet advanced government requirements.

    The Air Force Research Laboratory and AFWERX, the innovation arm of the U.S. Air Force, have partnered to streamline the SBIR and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) process by accelerating the small business experience through faster proposal to award timelines, changing the pool of potential applicants by expanding opportunities to small business, and eliminating bureaucratic overhead by implementing process improvement changes in contract execution.

    The Air Force began offering the Open Topic SBIR/STTR program in 2018, which expanded the range of funded innovations. Now, TrustPoint will accelerate its journey to create and provide innovative capabilities that will strengthen the national defense of the U.S.

    TrustPoint is developing a low size, weight, power and cost (SWaP-C) payload designed to address the U.S. Space Force’s growing need for tactically responsive and resilient space capabilities. The upgraded payload will bolster resistance to GPS jamming and spoofing, and expand the operational resilience of PNT in contested environments — an essential requirement for future proliferated space architectures and for the autonomous systems, including drones, that depend on trusted timing and navigation.

    The effort will culminate in laboratory testing in collaboration with the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), setting the stage for potential Phase III deployment opportunities.

    The award marks TrustPoint’s fifth Phase II SBIR in 18 months, spanning projects with the Air Force, Space Force and Navy, and adds to the company’s participation in government-funded PNT initiatives.

  • ArkEdge Space signs international agreements to develop LEO PNT constellation

    ArkEdge Space signs international agreements to develop LEO PNT constellation

    Tokyo-based satellite company ArkEdge Space Inc. has signed letters of intent with three international organizations to develop a PNT satellite network in low-Earth orbit (LEO).

    The agreements with TrustPoint Inc., the Royal Institute of Navigation in the United Kingdom and FrontierSI aim to strengthen satellite-based PNT capabilities for civil, commercial and security applications.

    The collaboration represents an early phase in ArkEdge Space’s effort to build international partnerships for PNT infrastructure. The company, which designs and operates small satellite constellations, said the project will focus on improving resilience of positioning and timing systems that support critical infrastructure.

    The partners plan to examine policy frameworks and national PNT strategies as the project moves into a demonstration phase. ArkEdge Space said it will expand its network of international partners to support the development of space-based positioning systems.

    “By working together, this collaboration represents an important step as we accelerate the development of resilient, trusted PNT capabilities that support critical infrastructure and informed decision-making worldwide,” ArkEdge Space CEO Takayoshi Fukuyo said.

  • TrustPoint demonstrates GPS-independent navigation signals to orbit

    TrustPoint demonstrates GPS-independent navigation signals to orbit

    TrustPoint has transmitted its first Low-Earth Orbit Navigation System (LEONS) time-transfer and tracking signals from a ground node to spacecraft in orbit. The milestone advances the development of commercial navigation infrastructure independent of GPS.

    GNSS satellites require knowledge of their own time and orbital position to provide accurate data to Earth-based users. Most LEO spacecraft currently rely on GPS or medium-Earth orbit (MEO) signals for that information. Interference and jamming are increasingly affecting these LEO connections, degrading or blocking signals.

    LEONS provides GPS-independent time transfer and orbit tracking. Initially developed for TrustPoint’s planned constellation, the system can be adapted for other LEO operators requiring timing and navigation for their spacecraft. The ground-to-space infrastructure is designed to support a GPS-independent PNT layer in orbit.

    “With the pace of modern threats accelerating, the difference between concepts and capabilities matters,” said Nicole Hilliard, director of government programs at TrustPoint. “This milestone demonstrates that commercial partners can field resilient, GPS-independent PNT capabilities that strengthen national security architectures and justify continued investment in companies that deliver.”

    The demonstration supports TrustPoint’s participation in the SpaceWERX AltPNT Challenge, which awarded the company two contracts to develop alternative PNT capabilities. The program seeks to deploy new options for precise, dual-use PNT systems.

  • TrustPoint launches third low-Earth orbit satellite

    TrustPoint launches third low-Earth orbit satellite

    TrustPoint, a company specializing in next-generation space-based positioning and navigation solutions, launched and made initial contact with its third free-flying satellite, Time Flies. The satellite was launched June 23 aboard a rideshare mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base. This achievement marks another step forward in TrustPoint’s efforts to provide positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) services from low-Earth orbit (LEO).

    Time Flies is TrustPoint’s third satellite launch in two years and incorporates significant technological improvements, including increased power and autonomy. These advancements enhance the company’s compact C-band payload, which is designed to support demonstrations and further field testing of TrustPoint-enabled receivers. These receivers are currently being developed in collaboration with the company’s expanding group of product partners.

    “With the successful launch and first contact of Time Flies, TrustPoint continues to prove that a commercial GPS alternative from LEO is not only possible, it’s here,” said Patrick Shannon, founder and CEO of TrustPoint. “As global demand for alternative and complementary PNT systems accelerates, TrustPoint is uniquely positioned to unlock significant market potential.”

    The Time Flies mission builds on the company’s previous launches, It’s About Time and Time We’ll Tell, and highlights TrustPoint’s continued focus on performance and autonomy to meet both commercial and national security requirements. The mission is supported by an all-U.S. team, reflecting the collaboration and expertise behind TrustPoint’s ongoing initiatives.

  • TrustPoint secures NAVAIR contract for C-band GNSS receivers

    TrustPoint secures NAVAIR contract for C-band GNSS receivers

    The United States Navy’s Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) has awarded TrustPoint a $1.2 million Small Business Innovation Research Phase II contract. The funding supports the initial delivery and demonstration of TrustPoint’s C-band GNSS service-enabled receivers for the U.S. government. TrustPoint is collaborating with Hexagon U.S. Federal and NovAtel, both part of Hexagon.

    This project combines TrustPoint’s C-band services with NovAtel’s GNSS receiver technology, aiming to advance resilient positioning, navigation and timing solutions for military use. The partnership draws on extensive experience in military-grade GNSS equipment and services, and represents a significant step in developing technology that can operate reliably in challenging operational environments.

    The contract highlights the increasing importance of frequency and orbital diversity for future navigation and timing needs. With Hexagon as a key partner, TrustPoint is positioned to address the Department of Defense’s evolving requirements for assured PNT, supporting mission continuity even in contested environments

  • TrustPoint secures SpaceWERX contract for complementary PNT

    TrustPoint secures SpaceWERX contract for complementary PNT

    TrustPoint has secured two Direct-to-Phase II contracts from SpaceWERX, totaling $3.8 million, to advance its GPS-independent ground control segment and develop an advanced positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) security application. The application is designed to address critical challenges within the Department of the Air Force (DAF) and strengthen the United States’ national defense.

    The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and SpaceWERX, the innovation arm of the U.S. Space Force and a division within AFWERX, have partnered to streamline the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) processes. Their efforts focus on accelerating proposal-to-award timelines, expanding opportunities for small businesses and reducing bureaucratic overhead through continuous process improvements.

    In 2018, the DAF introduced the Open Topic SBIR/STTR program to broaden its funds’ range of innovations. This initiative has paved the way for companies like TrustPoint to develop innovative capabilities contributing to national defense.

    TrustPoint is developing a commercial GPS service using a C-Band low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation. The system is designed to offer the high performance, security and availability required for autonomous navigation, critical infrastructure and national security.

  • TrustPoint improves GNSS solutions for US Air Force

    TrustPoint improves GNSS solutions for US Air Force

    Photo: Trustpoint
    Photo: TrustPoint

    TrustPoint, a commercial GPS and navigation technology company, has been awarded a Phase II Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) contract by AFWERX, totaling $1.6 million. The contract focuses on the development of advanced, resilient navigation applications to meet the challenges faced by the Department of the Air Force.

    In collaboration with the Naval Postgraduate School, TrustPoint aims to enhance its GNSS capabilities and pave the way for applications that will boost the national defense of the United States.

    The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and AFWERX have partnered to optimize the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and STTR processes. Their efforts aim to provide quicker proposal-to-award timelines, broadening the applicant pool to include more small businesses and reducing bureaucratic overhead through ongoing process improvements. Since the initiation of the Open Topic SBIR/STTR program in 2018, the DAF has expanded the scope of innovations it funds, with TrustPoint’s project commencing on April 2, 2024.