GPS Network-Assisted Positioning (GPS-NAP) Software Application

Air platform and weapon navigation systems encounter situations where GPS signal reception is deteriorated, making the position and time information less reliable or unavailable. In the event of jamming, GPS can even be totally denied under some conditions which prohibits access to precision positioning data for navigation, guidance or targeting. Future air platforms and weapons will carry next generation communications links designed to provide sensor-to-platform-to-weapon connectivity. The objective of this effort is to develop and demonstrate the ability to augment the GPS-derived navigation solution through “Network-Assistance” from the communication link to enhance the precision and robustness of the positioning information. Under this Phase II effort we will prototype and test a GPS Network-Assisted Positioning (GPS-NAP) software application that can be transitioned into the Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS). The GPS signal processing will be implemented as a P(Y) code GPS waveform suitable for porting to the JTRS radios under Phase III. The GPS waveform will provide precise network time for a Link-16 waveform. The GPS and MIDS PPLI observations are applied to an integrated GPS/inertial Kalman Filter for enhanced, robust, position information in the event of GPS jamming.