NIWC Atlantic opens M-PNT laboratory
The US Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Atlantic officially opened a new Maritime Positioning, Navigation and Timing (M-PNT) facility at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek, Virginia.
The lab will support the US Navy by providing research, development, test, evaluation, integration and certification works for both surface and submarine PNT systems. This includes supporting new technologies being developed and introduced into the fleet for operating in a global positioning system (GPS) or sensor in denied environment. These technologies include enhancements to inertial navigation systems and alternative positioning system technologies to GPS.
The laboratory will also facilitate research, development, test and evaluation efforts for other navy and Department of Defense customers, including the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency in support of maritime geospatial intelligence technical standards, and exploitation by the fleet.
Construction on the approximately $3 million laboratory began in May 2018 and is still in progress. Although the structure is complete, some minor work remains before the lab attains a fully functional status.
The facility will also support the navigation suite certification process being developed for the fleet, which tests the design, integration and interoperability of the entire PNT system of systems architecture in both surface ships and submarines. Initially, the lab will support guided missile destroyer-class and Virginia-class architectures, then grow to be reconfigurable to support all fleet PNT system of systems architectures.
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.
