NAVSTAR Global Positioning System (User Equipment) (SPACE)

Mission — MILITARY GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM USER EQUIP source

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a space-based radio Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) distribution system. GPS User Equipment (UE) consists of standardized receivers, antennas, antenna electronics, and other related equipment, grouped together in sets to derive navigation and time information transmitted from GPS satellites. These receiver sets are used by the Department of Defense (DoD). Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) funds UE development, integration, test, and analysis for new PNT receiver capabilities in Navigation Warfare (NAVWAR) across all military platforms using GPS services. The Military Global Positioning System User Equipment (MGUE) Increment (Inc) 1 program is responsible for the development of standard modernized receiver form factors for the lead platforms. The MGUE Inc 1 Capability Development Document (CDD) was approved by the Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC) on 24 July 2014. MGUE Inc 1 is initiating a new family of modernized GPS receivers that will deliver significantly improved capability to counter current and emerging PNT threats and enable military operations in a NAVWAR environment where current legacy receiver performance would be compromised. MGUE Inc 1 received a Milestone A decision in April 2012. The program received direction in February 2014, from the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics (USD(AT&L)) to execute a new acquisition strategy, accelerating the program to provide test units faster to facilitate military end users. The MGUE program received a Milestone B decision in January 2017. The MGUE Inc 2 effort will continue to expand Military-Code (M-Code) receiver technology into additional applications (precision guided munitions) and develop a Joint Modernized Handheld (JMHH) device and Aviation/Maritime receiver to meet Service requirements and address obsolescence. This effort leverages the MGUE Inc 1 technology to the maximum extent while addressing the production of M-Code integrated circuits far into the future. The MGUE Inc 2 is being executed in four parts: 1) Risk Reduction Activities, 2) Miniature Serial Interface (MSI) Receiver Card Middle Tier Acquisition (MTA) rapid prototyping followed by 3) Software Acquisition Pathway (SWP) and 4) Joint Modernized GPS HH Receiver Middle Tier Acquisition (MTA) rapid prototyping effort. The JROC approved the MGUE Inc 2 CDD on 6 April 2018. The Air Force Service Acquisition Executive approved the MGUE Inc 2 Acquisition Strategy to include designation of two MTA Rapid Prototype efforts: 1) MSI Receiver Cards to include Next-Generation (Next Gen) Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) and 2) Joint, Modernized Handheld Receiver. The SAE has approved the transition to a SWP following completion of MSI MTA to finish MSI development. Additionally, the MGUE Inc 2 program received direction for the study of an MGUE Inc 2 Aviation/Maritime receiver program and development of an acquisition strategy based on ASIC obsolescence for Inc 1. The MGUE Inc 2 MSI RP program is not fully funded across the Future Years Defense Program. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program elements 1206392SF and 1206398SF. This effort is in Budget Activity 4, Advanced Component Development and Prototypes (ACD&P), because efforts are necessary to evaluate integrated technologies, representative modes or prototype systems in a high fidelity and realistic operating environment.

Accomplishments & Planned Programs (7)