GMV — GAGAN Me With A Raytheon Contract

GMV has been awarded a  contract with Raytheon Company to develop a prototype algorithm for the detection of ionospheric depletions in the magnetic equatorial region that may be used in the user receiver data processing for the space-based augmentation system for the GAGAN program operated by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). This is GMV’s second contract with Raytheon Company.

GAGAN (Global Positioning Satellite-Aided Geosynchronous Augmented Navigation System) is a Space Based Augmentation System (SBAS) developed by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the Airports Authority of India. ‘Gagan’ is the transliteration of a Hindi word that means sky. GAGAN will provide satellite-based navigation for civil aviation across South and East Asia, which will provide India with the most accurate, flexible and efficient air navigation system ever deployed. The program is currently in its final operational phase, incorporating critical navigation components.

Raytheon has deployed various elements of the system, both in this and in earlier phases of the program. It recently signed a contract with ISRO for incorporating the necessary modifications in the system data processing, message generation and user receiver processing to increase the availability of precision approach guidance to civil aircraft using SBAS in the equatorial region. Within this contract, Raytheon has turned to GMV to develop specific elements of the system that related to user-level mitigation of safety problems that civil aircraft may encounter through GMV’s analysis and modeling. Due to India’s location along the equatorial crest, ionospheric effects occur, which makes it difficult to predict and model navigation. GMV is working on a prototype algorithm for the detection of ionospheric depletions in the equatorial region for the receiver the operator uses to retrieve and process information provided by the GAGAN ground segment. This algorithm will then form part of the user receiver of the GAGAN space-based augmentation system, improving the safety performance for GAGAN users. GMV expects to deliver its portion of the project in June 2010.