Aerospace and Defense Archives

September 19, 2019

Portable, Rapid-Install Precision Lander Enables Remote Operations

A portable differential GPS-based precision landing system that guides aircraft in to spot landings in all weather, challenging terrain and surfaces conditions proved itself in a rapid set-up demo before military officials of five countries recently. A Raytheon team set up the company’s Joint Precision Approach and Landing System (JPALS) in less than an hour on a small footprint and promptly brought in multiple F-35Cs, long-range stealth strike fighters, to the same designated runway landing point every time over the course of six different approaches.

By Inside GNSS

September 18, 2019

Orolia Defense & Security Announces Completed Acquisition of Talen-X

Rochester, NY – Orolia Defense & Security announced today that it has completed the acquisition of Talen-X, a U.S. company specializing in advanced Global Navigation Simulation System (GNSS) solutions and Interference, Detection and Mitigation (IDM) technologies.

By Inside GNSS

September 6, 2019

Deep-Space Clock Could Blaze Trail to Improved GNSS Accuracy

The U.S. National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA) has activated an orbiting ultra-precise atomic clock orbiting aboard a spacecraft provided by General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems. If the clock performs as well in space as it has in the lab, losing only one second every 10 million years, the technology could enable far-reaching deep space missions—and improve the accuracy of GNSS timing and positioning.

By Inside GNSS

August 21, 2019

Second GPS III Space Vehicle ‘Magellan’ Launched Aug. 22

The second Lockheed Martin-built GPS III space vehicle (GPS III SV02)—also known as Magellan—was recently encapsulated within its protective fairings in preparation for Thursday’s scheduled launch. GPS III will launch tomorrow from Space Launch Complex-37 (SLC-37) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.

By Stan Goff

IGM 20190821 OCX ART courtesy of AIr Force

AF Plans to Award Raytheon OCX Interim Support Contract

Air Force Space Command announced its intent this week to award Raytheon a sole source contract to support the new GPS ground system though the wording of the announcement left some question as to when delivery of that system would take place.

By Dee Ann Divis

Space and Missile Systems Center Releases Orbital Services Program (OSP)-4 Solicitation

The U.S. Air Force’s Rocket Systems Launch Program Office, part of the Space and Missile Systems Center’s Launch Enterprise, last week released a solicitation for the Orbital Services Program-4 Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contract.

By Inside GNSS

August 13, 2019

Drone Rescue Systems Supporting German Aerospace Center (DLR) Project

Parachute safety solution manufacturer Drone Rescue Systems GmbH supports the European research project Formation flight for in-Air Launcher 1st stage Capturing demonstration (FALCon). Under the leadership of DLR, research is being conducted on how launch vehicles can be returned to the launch site as efficiently as possible for re-use.

By Inside GNSS

August 9, 2019

European Data Relay System Satellite Launched by Arianespace

The second satellite to join the constellation that forms the European Data Relay System (EDRS) was launched by Arianespace on August 6, at 21:30 CEST (19:30 UTC). The satellite was launched on board an Ariane 5, together with a second passenger, Intelsat 39, from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

By Inside GNSS

August 5, 2019

European-Chinese Satellite to Study Interaction Between the Solar Wind and Earth’s Magnetosphere

Airbus has been selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) to build the European component of the SMILE satellite (Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer). SMILE will be the first joint satellite mission between ESA and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), following on from the success of the Double Star / Tan Ce mission which flew between 2003 and 2008.

By Inside GNSS

July 12, 2019

With M-Code On Its Way, Collins Aerospace’s New GPS Receiver Ready to Help Customers

Collins Aerospace Systems, a unit of United Technologies Corp., has begun taking orders for its latest-generation Miniature PLGR Engine – M-Code (MPE-M) GPS receiver set for 2020 production deliveries. According to independent testing, the MPE-M is the lowest Size, Weight and Power (SWaP) small Type II form factor ground receiver available and incorporates the company’s recently certified Common GPS Module (CGM).

By Inside GNSS

July 1, 2019

ION’s Joint Navigation Conference 2019 Coming in July

ION’s Joint Navigation Conference (JNC 2019) will be held July 8-10, at the Hyatt Regency Long Beach, Long Beach, California; and the U.S. ONLY CLASSIFIED sessions will be held July 11 at The Aerospace Corporation.

By Inside GNSS

June 26, 2019

Safran, Orolia Announce Global Resilient PNT Partnership

Enables Complex Military Missions in GNSS Denied Environments

At last week’s Paris Air Show in Le Bourget, France, Safran and Orolia announced the signing of a strategic partnership to offer the latest resilient positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) solutions for military forces, especially in GNSS denied environments.

By Inside GNSS