NAVSYS Corporation

Recent advancements in jamming technology present a significant threat to the integrity of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), such as Global Positioning System (GPS), Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), Galileo and BeiDou. These systems are vulnerable due to their operation within the narrow L-band frequency range, making them susceptible to interference by even lowpowered jammers.

Despite efforts to enhance satellite resilience, including systems like Iridium, the risk of interference persists, underlining the urgent need for ongoing improvements in satellite technology and anti-jamming measures to protect critical navigation signals.

NAVSYS Corporation addresses this challenge with its position, navigation and timing as a service (PNTaaS) technology.

PNTaaS leverages existing satellite communications (SATCOM) as signals of opportunity (SoOP) to ensure PNT through during GPS outages. This solution enables Assured PNT devices which include inertial measurement units and clocks, when integrated with NAVSYS’s PNTaaS software defined radio (SDR) to maintain accurate positioning and timing over extended periods without GPS.

Supported by funding from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the Navy, NAVSYS has developed PNTaaS SDRs capable of receiving and processing SATCOM SoOP signals, with monitor SDRs deployed at satellite ground stations to publish timing and signal data.

“Our technology operates in GPS-denied areas, offering resilient precision positioning and timing for military and commercial applications, including communications networks, power distribution systems and financial services—enabling reliable navigation through existing satellite infrastructure,” says Alison Brown, president and CEO.

Embracing a consortium-based model, NAVSYS has established partnership agreements to expand services and equipment offerings, enabling partners to deploy additional signals in space for enhanced resilience. This aligns with the company’s efforts to address timing dependencies in satellite communication terminals, which are crucial for network signal acquisition.

Recognizing vulnerabilities in systems like Starlink and OneWeb which rely on GPS signals for timing, NAVSYS seeks to augment terminals with PNTaaS capability. Successful testing with OneWeb terminals in active jammer scenarios demonstrates the feasibility of integration. Deployment of ground station equipment on the west and east coasts, along with ongoing discussions with terminal manufacturers, highlights NAVSYS’s commitment to rapid deployment through modular open system architecture. Pilot programs advance this initiative through partnership agreements.

While GPS and GNSS services are free to end-users, their taxpayer cost may deter commercial alternatives. However, niche markets are recognizing the importance of backups, urging government investment to stimulate the alternative PNT market. NAVSYS’s PNTaaS technology offers a cost-effective backup solution, in line with the U.S. space-based PNT policy’s emphasis on preparedness for GPS signal disruptions.
Since its foundation, NAVSYS has pioneered numerous innovations to advance navigation capabilities, including the development of techniques like snapshot processing. This approach, initially deployed in the first GPS cell phone and later in rebroadcasting signals over satellite transponders, has been successfully implemented in the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) wide area augmentation system. By associating precise timing and navigation data with existing SATCOM signals, NAVSYS’s approach represents a culmination of its innovative work over the past decades.

Standing tall as an expert in PNT services, NAVSYS is proud to have been selected as a Colorado Advanced Industry Grant recipient in 2024, recognizing its innovative technology’s economic impact on the state. Its partnerships with the Department of Defense, funded through the Small Business Innovative Research Program, are driving groundbreaking solutions. With a history of pioneering achievements in GPS technology, NAVSYS remains dedicated to addressing national security challenges globally.

The expert team at NAVSYS is forging ahead with a dedication to national security and commercial advancement. With a focus on innovation and reliability, it is all set to shape a future where navigation knows no limits.