Northrop demos GPS SDR navigation solution

Northrop Grumman, in partnership with the US Air Force Research Laboratory Sensors Directorate, demonstrated a software defined radio (SDR)-based, M-code enabled GPS receiver on production-capable hardware during a recent flight test, the company announced on 24 May.

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

Northrop Grumman has attained 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 design, enabled the platform to make rapid real-time field changes, an important capability in an evolving threat environment.