Northrop Grumman in partnership with the Air Force Research Laboratory Sensors Directorate, has demonstrated the first Software Defined Radio (SDR)-based, M-code enabled GPS receiver on production-capable hardware during a recent flight test. During the live-sky demonstration, the SDR acquired and tracked the modernized GPS military signal, known as M-code in real time.
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.
Northrop Grumman’s secure software defined GPS solution provides an unprecedented level of agility and enables customers to outpace the threat. 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.
