USAF completes ground-based positioning system review

Locata has completed critical design review (CDR) of its non-GPS-based positioning system (NGBPS) which will enable the US Air Force (USAF) to deploy a new ground-based positioning system for use in GPS-denied environments.

The CDR, conducted over a four-day period, reviewed real-world data gathered during two flight trials over a 600m² (1,500km²) LocataNet deployed around Cooma Airport in southern New South Wales, Australia.

The NGBPS will provide accurate positioning when GPS is jammed over 2,500m² (6,500km²) of the White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) in New Mexico, US.

The programme now moves to an initial deployment at WSMR for further testing in October 2011.

Locata is under the USAF 746th Test Squadron (746TS) contract for this project to support the 746TS ultra-high-accuracy reference system (UHARS).