DARPA targets undersea navigation
BAE Systems has received a contract from DARPA to develop an undersea navigation system to enhance the US Navy’s ability to provide precise global positioning across the ocean basins, the company announced on 16 May.
The contract is part of DARPA's Positioning System for Deep Ocean Navigation (POSYDON) programme.
Current navigational methods pose a detection risk for undersea vehicles as they are forced to surface periodically to access the space-based Global Positioning Systems (GPS), which cannot sufficiently penetrate seawater. Access to GPS is also limited by enemy signal jamming. POSYDON aims to replace these methods to allow undersea vehicles to navigate accurately while remaining below the ocean’s surface.
Under the contract, a BAE Systems-led team will develop a navigation, positioning and timing system designed to permit vehicles to remain underwater and navigate using integrated, multiple, long-range acoustic sources at fixed locations around the oceans.
The programme will also develop the vehicle instrumentation required to capture and process acoustic signals for navigation.
Joshua Niedzwiecki, director, sensor processing and exploitation, BAE Systems, said: ‘BAE Systems has more than 40 years of experience developing underwater active and passive acoustic systems. We’ll use this same technology to revolutionise undersea navigation for the POSYDON programme, by selecting and demonstrating acoustic underwater GPS sources and corresponding small-form factor receivers.’
Other members of BAE Systems’ POSYDON team include the University of Texas, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Washington.
You may also like
More from Digital Battlespace
-
![Airbus launches final CSO observation satellite for French Armed Forces]()
Airbus launches final CSO observation satellite for French Armed Forces
Airbus was awarded the Composante Spatiale Optique (CSO) contract at the end of 2010. This included an option for a third satellite, which was activated after Germany joined the programme in 2015.
-
![Intelligence advantage: How real-time GEOINT is reshaping military decision-making (Studio)]()
Intelligence advantage: How real-time GEOINT is reshaping military decision-making (Studio)
In today’s contested operational environment, adaptability is key. The new Geospatial-Intelligence as a Service (GEO IaaS) solution from Fujitsu and MAIAR empowers militaries by enabling intelligence advantage, combining advanced technology with human expertise to deliver actionable insights.
-
![Israel sets up new department to boost development of AI and autonomy]()
Israel sets up new department to boost development of AI and autonomy
Israel will continue to develop autonomy for its weapons and platforms as it brings together defence personnel, academia and industry.
-
![Clavister contracted to supply cyber protection for CV90s]()
Clavister contracted to supply cyber protection for CV90s
Clavister CyberArmour, an integrated defence cybersecurity system, will be used on BAE Systems Hägglunds’ CV90 platform in deployments with a Scandinavian country, as well as in an eastern European nation.
-
![Lockheed Martin completes tactical satellite demonstration and prepares for launch]()
Lockheed Martin completes tactical satellite demonstration and prepares for launch
The tactical satellite (TacSat) is an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) system and will participate in exercises in 2025.
-
![AUSA 2024: General Micro Systems adds four new products to the X9 Spider family]()
AUSA 2024: General Micro Systems adds four new products to the X9 Spider family
The airborne three-domain, the two ground-based and the ¼ ATR OpenVPX-based cross-domain systems were engineered to provide real-time security across multi-domain operations.
