United States Patent – Awarded To Mayflower Communications Company Inc. – Iridium

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Patent Awarded – Integrated Interference Mitigation for Iridum User Handsets and GPS Receivers – March Mayflower was awarded a United States Patent (US11,262,457 B2 – March 1, 2022) for our Integrated Interference Mitigation for Iridium User Handsets and GPS Receivers.  Mayflower would like to congratulate the inventors Dr. Christopher Zarowski, Dr Huan-Wan Tseng, and Mr William LeComte for their achievement.  This capability is currently in use in support of SOCOM and other US Government across the globe in support of real world NAVWAR Operations.

This capability provides a method for concurrently protecting Iridium and GPS L1/L2 band received satellite signals against interference signals (e.g., jamming signals) using a space-time adaptive processing (STAP).  While the GPS signal is protected against jamming using nulling of the interfering signals, the Iridium signal is protected using Beam-forming.  A single broadband small controlled reception pattern antenna (sCRPA) array receives both the GPS (L1 and L2) and Iridium signals for the STAP-based anti-jam solutions outputting filtered Iridium and GPS signals.  Use of a common small broadband antenna and common front end signal processing of the received signal enables an integrated system for use on size, weight, and power constrained platforms.

This capability will greatly enhance the war fighting capability and dovetail into protecting the upcoming MGUE Increment II GPS Receivers that implement Alternative Navigation capabilities.

Patent Awarded – Integrated Interference MItigation for Iridum User Handsets and GPS Receivers – March 2022

 

 

CLEANING UP THE JAM

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Established by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) in the late 1970s for military use, the Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite-based navigation system designed to function in any weather, anywhere in the world, at any time of day. Made available to civilians in the 1980s, there are currently more than 30 dedicated, GPS satellites circling 12,000 miles above the Earth, transmitting signals that allow millions of GPS devices to calculate their locations by measuring the distance to each satellite. While the U.S. controlled GPS is ubiquitous in much of the world, other similar systems also exist. Russia has its Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), Europe recently launched Galileo, and China has BeiDou. Japan and India have also introduced their own regional systems.
GPS is most commonly used as a navigational tool, but there are any number of other uses as well, from agriculture and manufacturing to property surveys and self-driving cars. These days, it’s not much of a stretch to say that the global financial and communications systems both rely on GPS. And that’s also true of American military operations around the globe. Troop movements, missile defense, and reconnaissance all need GPS in order to properly function.  With every technological strength, however, comes a vulnerability. It’s not especially difficult to imagine the catastrophe that would come as the result of a global GPS systems failure. And in terms of warfighter support, we’ve already seen the effect of GPS interference, or “jamming.”
During Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, some reports estimated that at least 80 percent of U.S. weapons were directed via satellite. GPS-guided munitions included Tomahawks, JDAMs (joint direct attack munitions), and the EGBU-27 (Enhanced Guided Bomb Unit-27, which linked GPS with laser guidance and inertial navigation). In the first confirmed use of GPS-jamming equipment, Iraqi forces then attempted to disrupt reception of the relatively weak GPS signal, using equipment reportedly imported from Russia. Although these attempts were unsuccessful (after US forces destroyed the six jammers), diverting “smart” bombs by jamming GPS signals can often cause unintended civilian casualties. Since that Second Gulf War, it has been reported that Russia, China, and North Korea have all jammed GPS signals in order to disrupt foreign military exercises, protect assets from attack, prevent surveillance, and interfere with industrial activity.
According to Dr. Triveni Upadhyay, founder and chairman of the Bedford, Massachusetts-based Mayflower Communications, “the problem has been out there for a long time. By design, GPS signals are very weak. So long as there is no interference, they work. But it has always been known that, given the opportunity, bad actors would jam the system. We are in the business of developing technology to prepare for that inevitability.”
When the need became urgent, Mayflower was well-positioned to respond. Since 1996, the company had been developing its “Small Affordable Anti-Jam GPS Antenna (SAAGA)” and follow-on anti-jam improvements, with funding from the DoD’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program. Joseph P. Thomas, Mayflower’s Director of Government Programs, said, “In 2007, the Air Force, Navy, and Army jointly released a broad agency announcement seeking companies capable of developing a next-generation GPS anti-jam system that would meet three criteria: provide simultaneous protection on both the civilian and military signals; mitigate rotor blade reflection effects (rotatory aircraft blades deflect jammer signals at different angles, and most GPS anti-jam systems cannot adapt quickly enough to react); and reduce size, weight, and power requirements (SWaP).”
Mayflower responded by developing the Small Antenna System (SAS). Intended for the Army Joint Precision Air Landing System program, SAS was Mayflower’s first high-performance GPS anti-jam product designed to counter rotor-blade modulation effects, and was the only GPS AJ system at that time to do so effectively.
The Navy, having witnessed SAS’s successful development firsthand, turned to Mayflower for a similar solution for submarine platforms. They awarded the company a sole-source follow-on contract to build SAGE—the Submarine Anti-Jam GPS Enhancement. William LeComte, Mayflower’s Director of Anti-Jam Technology and Product Group, recounted how SAGE’s “high performance, low SWaP, and cost-effective antenna system will enable the U.S. Navy submarine fleet to safely operate in GPS contested or denied environments.”
SAGE’s success led the DoD to contract with Mayflower in 2014 under the Rapid Innovation Fund (RIF) to make SAGE non-platform specific so that it could serve ground vehicles, fixed wing aircraft, rotary wing aircraft, UAVs, and small ships, as well as submarines.
The Rapid Innovation Fund, established in 2011 by the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is a competitive, merit-based program that accelerates the fielding of innovative technologies into military systems. The Mayflower technology enabled by the RIF contract is called MAGNA—the Multi-Platform Anti-Jam GPS Navigation Antenna.
A critical design element in all of Mayflower’s anti-jamming solutions is their backward compatibility, which enables the replacement of an existing antenna without the need for putting additional holes in the platform. The MAGNA F (Federated) is a two-piece design while the MAGNA I (Integrated) has the electronics integrated into a single package with similar performance.
A member of the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) reported to Mayflower in 2019 that “things are going well with the MAGNA-F on the platform that has been converted. I see reports almost daily from the success of that unit since our team had the ability to switch from regular GPS antenna to MAGNA-F antenna. We absolutely need these for our mission. If you thought I was a pain before about getting these items as quick as possible … now I’m going to be asking twice as often!”
Reflecting on the impact of his company’s contribution, Upadhyay said, “It is big, in the sense that one area of vulnerability is gone. It is like a cat and mouse game. You have to learn to live with the jamming. But we don’t want it to be easy for them to jam us. You don’t leave your house open for people to burgle. Before, our door was unlocked. Now we have put a lock on the door. At the highest level, we can now do missions in unfriendly territory without endangering soldiers’ lives. If you don’t have GPS, you don’t fly. With our solution on the platform, our troops can now reach the target. We have provided a good solution in the near term, but we are constantly improving because there will always be a new threat coming. We improve our technology, they improve theirs, then we need to step up again. As long as there is a disincentive for them to jam, we win.”

Modernization Priority: Networked Command, Control, and Communications (C3)
RIF Award: 2013 Navy SPAWAR: “Multi-platform Anti-jam GPS Navigation Antenna” (N00039-14-C-0104) – SBIR Phase III
Enabling SBIR: Army topic A95-023 “Small Affordable Anti-Jam GPS Antenna (SAAGA)” (Phase II contract: DAAB07-98-C-A501)

Approved for release bu the US Navy PAO: SR-2022-072

Mayflower DoD MAGNA RIF Success Story Final- Feb 2020

Rep. Moulton Announces $56 Million Military Contract with Mayflower Communications

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 2, 2020

CONTACT: Tim Biba, Tim@mail.house.gov, 202-400-1845

Rep. Moulton Announces $56 Million Military Contract with Mayflower Communications

Salem, MA – Rep. Seth Moulton announced today that Mayflower Communications Company Inc. of Bedford has been awarded a $56 million contract for a GPS navigation antenna system. The technology will be used by the United States military and has an estimated completion date of September 28, 2024.

“Since our country’s founding, Massachusetts has been the crucible for the tools and technologies that protect the nation.” Moulton said. “What we make here keeps our troops safe, ensures that we are ready for the challenges that lie ahead of us and helps us stare down our adversaries today. Congratulations to Mayflower Communications on this contract.”

“As a US Owned small business Mayflower is proud to serve our nation and will continue to push the limits of innovation to bring very high quality products to our nation’s warfighters,” said Joseph Thomas the Director, Government Programs.

Mayflower Communications Company Inc. was founded in 1986 by researchers from Draper Laboratories. The company focuses on radio navigation and GPS Anti-Jam technologies, partnering frequently with government agencies and private companies to develop new solutions.

This specific contract is for a Multi-Platform Anti-Jam Global Positioning System (GPS) Navigation Antenna (MAGNA), which provides GPS protection. By rejecting interfering signals before they disrupt the GPS receiver, the device reduces the effect of GPS jamming and enables the warfighter continued access to GPS provided position, navigation, and timing. They are the only US-owned supplier of the Small Antenna System (SAS) and the MAGNA.

Representative Moulton’s office has worked with Mayflower Communications for the past 6 years, investigating how the company’s research can be utilized within the military. Representative Moulton toured their facilities back in October of 2019 to better understand how the company partners with the public and private sectors.

Mayflower profiled as a key player in the GPS Anti-Jam Market

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Anti-Jamming Market for GPS is expected to grow from USD 3.53 billion in 2017 to USD 5.50 billion by 2023, at a CAGR of 7.34% between 2018 and 2023.

I am happy to inform you that Mayflower Communications Company, Inc has been profiled as a key player in the GPS Anti-Jam Market. This is very impressive for a Privately Held Small Business to be listed with large companies. This shows that the Mayflower GPS Anti-Jam Systems (NavGuard Product Line) is making its mark in industry. The current GPS Anti-Jam market includes Mayflower Communications (US), Rockwell Collins, Inc. (US), Raytheon Company (US), Cobham plc (UK), NovAtel, Inc. (Canada), , Furuno Electric Co., Ltd. (Japan), Harris Corporation (US), BAE Systems plc (UK), ublox Holding AG (Switzerland), and InfiniDome Ltd. (Israel).

The report provides a brief research report for the Anti-Jamming Market for GPS by Receiver Type (Military & Government Grade, and Commercial Transportation Grade), Technique (Nulling, Beam Steering, and Civilian), End-User (Military, and Civilian), Application, and Geography – Global Forecast to 2023.

US NAVY MAGAZINE: Mayflower MAGNA RIF Program (GPS Anti-Jam)

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Innovative Solutions for Warfighters

By Edward Lundquist

Article can be found at http://digital.ausn.org/i/976866-spring-2018

 

Small companies and their innovative technologies can bring new and valuable capability to warfighters. But the little guys can be at a disadvantage when it comes to big acquisition programs. Some good ideas need a little help to prove the concept and make it available to the warfighter sooner rather than later.

The Navy offers several programs to aid small businesses and accelerate their technology, including the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program and the Rapid Innovation Fund.

A small company, Mayflower Communications Co. Inc., located in Bedford, Mass., responded to an SBIR topic “compact and integrated a small anti-jam Global Positioning System (GPS) antenna.”

Six companies received Phase I SBIR contracts to propose a concept, and Mayflower was the only one to receive Phase II funding to develop their idea. Mayflower’s small antenna system (SAS) was designed to be mounted on rotary-wing aircraft to integrate with the onboard GPS receiver and protect the GPS signal from jamming.

GPS is a ubiquitous commodity with myriad uses, and not just for the military. It’s something we all takefor granted each and every day. “All of our platforms use it,” said CAPT Armen Kurdian, who served as a principal assistant program manager at Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR). “We have made a huge investment in our satellite constellation.

And it’s an advantage that our adversaries will want to take away. So we need to protect this enabling capability.”

Bigger ships and aircraft are not limited by the same space, weight and power constraints — or SWaP — as smaller platforms and can carry the larger Advanced Digital Antenna Production (ADAP) seven-channel GPS anti-jam system currently in fleet-wide use. But there are platforms that need a smaller antenna system. Even the submarine community was interested. So Mayflower leveraged SAS to create the Submarine Anti-Jam GPS Enhancement (SAGE), small enough to fit on the periscope mast.

SAGE demonstrated that the SAS capability could be made smaller, and caught the eye of Bill Joo, an engineer at SPAWAR in San Diego. He thought he could leverage that technology through the Navy’s Rapid Innovation Fund to meet the needs of a variety of small vessels, aircraft (such as drones) and ground vehicles. “We found that there could be a common set of performance requirements that would be similar across large families of systems, such as small boats, ground vehicles and Military Sealift Command ships that don’t have robust systems on board, even individual Soldiers and Marines on the ground,” Kurdian said.

“Bill wanted us take SAGE and improve its performance level and, if possible, make it even smaller,” Thomas said. “So we developed two separate products — the Multi-Platform Anti-Jam GPS Navigation Antenna (MAGNA) Federated System (MAGNA-F), which consists of two separate pieces, an antenna and the antenna electronics, as well as the MAGNA Integrated System (MAGNA-I), with all of the associated GPS anti-jam electronics located on the inside of the antenna,” out of one Rapid Innovation Fund project. “MAGNA offers the counter-countermeasure that restores the advantages afforded by reliable GPS sources,” Joo said.

MAGNA works even when a satellite signal is being interrupted by the spinning rotor blades. The system detects a jamming signal and nulls out the jamming, allowing clean GPS signals to get to the receiver. “It works in much the same way as noise-cancelling headphones,” he said.

Taking the Next Step

SBIR is designed to help small companies mature their technology and develop a plan to successfully transition that technology with a viable business plan. Technology readiness levels (TRLs) are used to indicate the maturity of a technology, ranging from TRL 1, which is observing and reporting about basic principles, to TRL 9, where a system has proven itself in mission operations.

In the case of MAGNA, what started as a science and technology project became an SBIR-funded effort, with Rapid Innovation Fund funding taking the technology all the way to TRL 8, which is defined as completing and qualifying an actual system through test and demonstration, Kurdian said.

The Rapid Innovation Fund is designed to transition mature technologies into defense acquisition programs. The average Rapid Innovation Fund award is $2.1 million; 90 percent of Rapid Innovation Fund awards go to small businesses and 75 percent of those were awarded to SBIR participants.

“The Army made some additional minor adjustments to the hardware configuration to ‘connectorize’ it to their air vehicles, and they have many thousands of them — as ubiquitous as the capability they are trying to connect to,” Kurdian said. “And they are enabling other more compact products and packaging them in such a way that is useful to the warfighter, such as an individual soldier connected to a network.”

During the Rapid Innovation Fund effort, different organizations contributed to the test to achieve results that met their needs. “They wanted to integrate MAGNA to their specific platforms to make sure it worked,” Kurdian said.

Kurdian said the Navy works with small companies to help them succeed. “The Navy helps them draw that path from science and technology (S&T) to fielding. We worked with Mayflower to plan ahead for transition before the [Rapid Innovation Fund project] was awarded.”

While the SBIR programs yielded the necessary MAGNA capabilities, Joo said the Rapid Innovation Fund program provided the means to fully integrate the critical technologies, perform the core qualification tests, and produce a production representative article with high TRL.

MAGNA-F is on two platforms and flying missions today for Special Operations Command against a real threat. MAGNA-I will be integrated into the Army’s Shadow unmanned aerial vehicle program and the Navy’s Fire Scout. “As of February 2018, the MAGNA-F has over 5,200 hours of flight time in an operational environment and successfully accomplishing the mission.  Recently, the MAGNA-I has been integrated and flown on a small UAS and is heading to the operational environment within the next couple of months,” said Thomas.

Kurdian is now assigned to the Navy Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, where he is the director of engineering and product support. “MAGNA is probably the biggest single success story of my naval career, at least from an acquisition perspective. I’m still excited about the prospect of getting it out there.” Joo said that small companies can take a lesson from MAGNA. “Do not force a solution on the warfighter,” he said. “Address the needs of the warfighter and adapt your solution in a novel manner that you may not have foreseen.”

CAPT Edward Lundquist, USN (Ret.), writes for naval and maritime trade and professional journals.

Mayflower delivers anti-jam antenna systems to U.S. Air Force

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By

Mayflower Communications Company has delivered its Multi-Platform Anti-Jam GPS Navigation Antenna–Federated (MAGNA-F) to the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) in August 2017.

Mayflower’s MAGNA-F anti-jam antenna system.

Mayflowers’ GPS anti-jam system (MAGNA) provides protection for multiple military GPS receiver types (C/A and SAASM).  The AFSOC platform has been proven in an operational environment.

MAGNA-F can provide protected GPS signals to different receivers simultaneously. It protects critical mission systems on the platform and provides unwavering position, navigation and timing (PNT).

The MAGNA-F system provides the fixed-wing platform with unsurpassed high-performance anti-jam capability.

“The MAGNA-F is easy to install as a drop in FRPA replacement, provides high-performance GPS anti-jam, and is very reliable,” said Joe Thomas, director of government programs for Mayflower.

The integration and testing of the MAGNA-F began in late January and February of 2017 and was led by the U.S. AFSOC Program Team at U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM).

The flight testing proved the Mayflower MAGNA-F provides the highest level of PNT assurance for size, weight and performance (SWaP) constrained fixed-wing and UAS platforms.

The MAGNA-F is built on an open systems architecture and can be used with multiple military or civilian GPS receivers.

The MAGNA-F enables growth capabilities across a variety SWaP constrained platforms including rotary wing, fixed wing, and small to large unmanned aerial systems (UAS). The MAGNA AJ systems are also adaptable for U.S. Army ground vehicle AJAS requirements.

Over the past five years, Mayflower has delivered anti-jam systems across multiple aircraft (fixed wing, UAS) and U.S. Navy strategic-level submarine platforms.

The Mayflower family of anti-jam systems have a wealth of military live tests (flight and ground) and “real-world” operational experience. The Mayflower SAS (NavGuard 500), SAGE (NavGuard 501) and MAGNA-F (NavGuard 502) assures a Technology Readiness Level (TRL 8/9) product. Each of these systems are software upgradable with capabilities such as direction of arrival, jammer characterization, and operational with U.S. Army pseudolites.

Mayflower delivers anti-jam antenna systems to U.S. Air Force

Mayflower Awarded MAGNA EMD Program

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Mayflower Communications Co. Inc.,* Bedford, Massachusetts, has been awarded a multi-million dollar cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for non-recurring engineering and fabrication of production representative articles for the multi-platform anti-jam global positioning system navigation antenna, as well as the federated and integrated systems. One bid was solicited with one received. Work will be performed in Bedford, Massachusetts, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 1, 2019. Fiscal 2017 research, development, test and evaluation funds were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity.  (Awarded Sept. 30, 2017)

https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1331599/

Lockheed Subsidiary Subcontracts Mayflower Communications for Navy Submarine Antenna Upgrade Work

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executive-biz

Posted By: Jane Edwardson: In: News, Products & Service

Mayflower Communications has received a subcontract from a Lockheed Martin subsidiary to supply antenna systems in support of GPS anti-jam capability upgrade work on the U.S. Navy’s submarines.

virginia-class-submarine-168x167

Mayflower said Nov. 1 it will integrate its Submarine Anti-Jam GPS Enhancement NavGuard 501 platform with the service branch’s Multifunction Mast Antenna System (OE-538B) through the contract with Lockheed Martin Sippican.

The SAGE (NavGuard 501) antenna system is designed to transmit GPS signals to multiple receivers and works with M-code,  SAASM P(Y) and C/A receivers.

A joint venture of Lockheed Martin Sippican and Granite State Manufacturing secured a sole-source contract from the military branch’s Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command to update the antenna mast system aboard the Navy’s fleet of submarines in an effort to facilitate communications and address navigation warfare requirements.

Lockheed Subsidiary Subcontracts Mayflower Communications for Navy Submarine Antenna Upgrade Work

Mayflower SAGE Selected For OE-538B Upgrade

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rf-global

News | October 31, 2016

Mayflower Communications Company, Inc. serving as a sub-contractor to Lockheed Martin Sippican, is providing its Submarine Anti-Jam GPS Enhancement (SAGE) capability in support of the U.S. Navy Multifunction Mast Antenna System (OE-538B) upgrade to improve submarine communications and meet Navigation Warfare (NAVWAR) requirements.

The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR HQ), in support of the Program Executive Office for Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (PEO C4I), Undersea Integration Program Office (PMW/A 770), awarded a sole source contract for the development of an OE-538B antenna upgrade and procurement to Lockheed Martin Sippican/Granite State Manufacturing Submarine Antenna Joint Venture. Mayflower was selected by the U.S. Navy and Lockheed Martin Sippican to design, develop, and integrate the Submarine Anti-Jam GPS Enhancement (SAGE) (NavGuard 501) product in support of U.S. Navy NAVWAR requirements.

The Mayflower SAGE – a variant of Small Antenna System (SAS) – was developed specifically for inclusion on Submarine Platforms to support U.S. Navy requirements for Global Position System (GPS) Anti-Jam (AJ). The SAGE’s small size and feature set make it capable for ease of integration by Lockheed Martin Sippican into the OE-538B antenna mast. The SAGE is a high performance, low Size, Weight and Power (SWaP) cost effective antenna system that will enable the U.S. Navy submarine fleet to operate in GPS contested or denied (NAVWAR) environments.

The SAGE (NavGuard 501) is a small SWaP GPS AJ System that can supply clean GPS Signals to multiple GPS Receivers from a single antenna and is compatible with C/A, SAASM P(Y), and M-Code GPS Receivers. The SAGE is a perfect fit for the small SWaP Requirements of the OE-538B Antenna Mast System (submarine-unique). The SAGE (NavGuard 501) is Mayflower’s latest federated, affordable GPS AJ solution that leverages proven Small Antenna System (SAS) technology and provides Iridium capability in an integrated antenna. The SAS solution has been extensively tested by the Government on multiple platforms. The SAGE is the highest performance and smallest GPS anti-jam federated solution with Iridium capability in the market. The SAGE AJ solution offers an affordable SWaP-C alternative over larger and more expensive existing anti-jam systems.

Joseph Thomas, Mayflower’s Director of Government Programs, said, “The SAGE product has given Mayflower the opportunity to support a U.S. Navy National Strategic Level Platform and to expand into the next generation of small SWaP NAVWAR GPS Anti-Jam systems. The SAGE ensures we can continue to offer the warfighters the very latest and most efficient technology to support operations in an A2AD Environment”.

Mayflower is working closely with Lockheed Martin Sippican to complete integration and environmental qualification of the SAGE to support the OE-538B program requirements.

SPAWAR security and policy review tracking number: SR-2016-342

SOURCE: Mayflower Communications Company, Inc.

http://www.rfglobalnet.com/doc/mayflower-sage-selected-for-oe-b-upgrade-0001

US Navy contract Lockheed Martin for OE-538B antenna upgrade

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navaltoday

The U.S. Navy has contracted Lockheed Martin Sippican for the Multifunction Mast Antenna System (OE-538B) upgrade to improve submarine communications.

us-navy-contracts-lockheed-martin-for-oe-538b-antenna-upgrade-1024x749Serving as a sub-contractor to Lockheed Martin Sippican, Mayflower Communications Company will deliver its Submarine Anti-Jam GPS Enhancement (SAGE) solution in support of the antenna upgrade.

The Mayflower SAGE, a variant of a small antenna system (SAS), was developed specifically for inclusion on submarine platforms to support U.S. Navy requirements for global position system (GPS) anti-jam (AJ).

Joseph Thomas, Mayflower’s Director of Government Programs, said: “The SAGE product has given Mayflower the opportunity to support a U.S. Navy National Strategic Level Platform and to expand into the next generation of small SWaP NAVWAR GPS Anti-Jam systems. The SAGE ensures we can continue to offer the warfighters the very latest and most efficient technology to support operations in an A2AD Environment.”

US Navy contracts Lockheed Martin for OE-538B antenna upgrade