$247 Million Development and Manufacture Contract
BAE Systems has received a $247 million (€205 million) order from the US Space Force for design and manufacture of an advanced military GPS receiver and next-generation semiconductor, the company announced on 17 February.
The technology will provide positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) capabilities to frontline troops, enabling them to execute missions in challenging electromagnetic environments.
The Military GPS User Equipment Increment 2 Miniature Serial Interface programme will provide improved capabilities for size- and power-constrained military GPS applications, including precision-guided munitions and handheld battery-powered devices. The programme will focus on certification of an advanced application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) and development of an ultra-small, low-power GPS module. Both products will work with the next-generation military M-Code signal technology, which provides reliable GPS data with anti-jamming and anti-spoofing capabilities to protect against EW threats.
“This program enables us to further develop our core M-Code technology to deliver high-performance, next-generation GPS capabilities […] Our M-Code receiver and next-gen ASIC will enable secure and reliable military GPS capabilities in a broader range of platforms,” explained Greg Wild, Director of Navigation and Sensor Systems.
BAE Systems’ Precision Strike business has 45 years of military GPS experience and more than 1.5 million GPS devices on over 280 platforms around the world. The company is currently producing M-Code GPS receivers of multiple types, including the lowest-power, smallest M-Code solution currently available. Additional prototypes are in development for ground, weapons, and airborne applications: the company’s M-Code GPS products are available to US allies via the Foreign Military Sales process.
