Home >> News: May 27th, 2019 >> Story
Satnews Daily
May 27th, 2019

Northrop Grumman and AFRL's Sensors Directorate Demo the First SDR-Based, M-Code, GPS Receiver


Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC), in partnership with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Sensors Directorate, demonstrated the first Software Defined Radio (SDR)-based, M-code enabled, GPS receiver on production-capable hardware during a recent flight test.

In real-time, the SDR acquired and tracked the modernized GPS military signal, known as M-code, during a live-sky demonstration.

Additionally, Northrop Grumman achieved a security certification milestone by attaining Certification Requirements Review approval for the SDR-based GPS receiver from the GPS Directorate. This milestone constitutes a critical step on the way to fielding an M-code enabled GPS receiver that can be operated in an unclassified environment.

Using a system-on-a-chip SDR approach, in lieu of the traditional fixed application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) design, enabled the platform to make rapid real-time field changes, an important capability in an evolving threat environment.

Vern Boyle, VP, advanced technologies, Northrop Grumman, noted that the company's secure software defined GPS solution provides an unprecedented level of agility and enables the firm's customers to outpace the threat.