BEDFORD, MA – April 2016 Mayflower Communications Company, Inc. (Mayflower) has been awarded a Phase III SGUE (Small GPS User Equipment) contract with the United States Air Force Research Laboratory sponsored by the Space and Missile Systems Center/GPS Directorate (SMC/GPSD), to develop a small SWaP (Size, Weight, and Power) security certifiable Common GPS Module (CGM) for the Air Force’s Modernized GPS User Equipment (MGUE) Program.

Mayflowers’ small SWaP GPS receiver technology will allow the Department of Defense (DoD) and Agencies to benefit from increased competition, enhanced capability, and reduction in overall program costs to DoD Program Managers and Platform Prime Contractors in upgrading their navigation systems to the modernized M-Code Receiver (MGUE).

Mayflower’s SGUE program is aimed at the development of advanced GPS receiver technology to support future military GPS requirements.   The goal of the program is to develop a NAVWAR (Navigation Warfare) compatible CGM form factor that will support SWaP-constrained military users. The SGUE CGM development effort will expand Mayflower’s Military GPS Receiver product line to include modernized NavAssure-M™ product offering so our current customers will have a form-fit-function upgrade path from SAASM to MGUE.
“Mayflower is a leader in small SWaP and miniaturized military GPS receiver and Anti-Jam products.   I am confident in the quality and innovation expertise of our GPS engineering team to successfully develop the SGUE CGM,” said Dr. Triveni Upadhyay, Founder and CEO of Mayflower Communications Company, Inc.  “The development of small SWaP MGUE form-factors, enabled by SGUE CGM, will have a significant impact in the M-Code Market, providing secure modernized GPS signals to the warfighters and lowering total ownership costs on many military programs.”

“The Air Force is very pleased to see innovative GPS technology developed under its SBIR Program to find commercialization opportunity in the MGUE Market. Mayflower has performed well and we are confident of the SGUE Program success”, said Dana Howell, Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Program Manager.

“The AFRL/GPSD objective in the SGUE Program is to advance MGUE technology and make it affordable to the warfighter. The SGUE Program fits the need and will lower the cost to the user by increased competition enabled by the SGUE Program” said Eddy Emile, Chief, Advanced Technology and International Branch, GPS Directorate.

According to Mayflower, the NavAssure-M™ MGUE receiver form-factors, focused toward small SWaP GPS receiver applications, will be backward compatible to SAASM, therefore, lowering the platform integration cost and total life-cycle cost.

About Mayflower Communications Company, Inc.:

Mayflower Communications Company, a privately held company, based in Bedford, MA, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in small Size, Weight, and Power Global Positioning System (GPS) products and technologies. With a history of innovation spanning 30 years, Mayflower provides state-of-the-art Anti-Jam Electronics and is at the forefront of Military SAASM and MGUE GPS Receiver development and production. Mayflower is designated by the GPS Directorate (GPSD) as an “Authorized SAASM P(Y) Code GPS receiver manufacturer” – one of the seven companies to be recognized. Mayflower is at the cutting edge of Wireless Communication Technologies and has a proven track record in developing innovative solutions for the military and commercial communication market. Mayflower had a successful spin-off, Envoy Networks, Inc., with the backing of leading venture capitalists, to focus on mobile wireless cellular infrastructure market. Envoy Networks was since acquired by Texas Instruments.

Session C6: Military GPS Receivers and Military GPS Receiver Technology

Chip-Scale Atomic Clock (CSAC)-augmented Military GPS Receiver

By:  Christopher Zarowski and Naresh Babu Jarmale, Mayflower Communications Company, Inc.; Yoonkee Kim, US Army

A GPS-disciplined Chip-Scale Atomic Clock (CSAC) can affordably provide precision time to C4ISR system relying on synchronization to operate in a very small Size, Weight, and Power (SWAP) even if GPS signals are lost. Conversely, a GPS receiver can utilize an external clock input from a CSAC to aid for navigation. CERDEC and Mayflower Communications Company, Inc. (Mayflower) has developed a CSAC-augmented NavAssure® SAASM GPS receiver to demonstrate the feasibility of its concept. This presentation will include unclassified laboratory test/demonstration results of benefits of augmenting a military GPS receiver with a precise source of time from a CSAC.

Burlington, MA., March 10, 2015: Mr. Thomas brings extensive senior government program management expertise and will drive the next-generation strategic planning efforts of Mayflower’s Global Positioning Systems (GPS) programs. As a former warfighter, Mr. Thomas is uniquely qualified to ensure that the ‘voice of the warfighter’ continues to be recognized and incorporated within Mayflower’s GPS solutions.

“Designing high-performance size, weight and power (SWaP)-optimized, affordable and practical GPS solutions has been a cornerstone of Mayflower’s focus. As we expand our military GPS business in handheld, PGM (precision guided munitions), and the small UAS (unmanned autonomous systems) market, Joe’s diverse background as a warfighter and as a requirements subject matter expert in modernized GPS programs, will help secure Mayflower’s leadership position in this important growing market”, said Dr. Triveni Upadhyay, CEO of Mayflower Communications.

Mr. Thomas will direct and serve as the capture lead for Mayflower’s GPS programs. He is responsible for driving growth of Mayflower’s GPS portfolio, which includes military GPS receivers and the anti-jam suite of products. He will leverage his expertise in managing national level security assets, multiple forms of secure, unsecured, and civilian communications architectures, product development and financial management to expand the use of Mayflower’s products especially in environments with undefined and unique operational environments, and those with complex technical, logistical and implementation challenges.

“The ability to lead strategic planning and growth efforts for best-in-class GPS technology is exciting and humbling.” said Joseph Thomas. “The full potential of Mayflower’s GPS suite of products has yet to be realized. I look forward to driving that effort.”

Previously Mr. Thomas served as the Director of the Position, Navigation and Timing Branch for the US Air Force and as a US Army subject matter expert on the multi-billion dollar GPS program responsible for all military and civilian agency requirements in support of the GPS Space, Ground Control, and User Equipment Segments for the DoD GPS Enterprise Modernization effort. He served on the US Air Force Space Force Working Group in support of the DoD Air-Sea Battle and Anti-Access Area Denial concepts.

Retired after 20 years as a US Army Ranger, Mr. Thomas is also member of Special Mission Units, and as a Space Operations Officer where he managed military, civilian, and contracted employees.

Mr. Thomas’s qualifications include: Bachelor of Arts in History from The Citadel; Masters in Military Operational Art and Science/Studies from US Army Command and General Staff College; Certification in Space Flight/Orbital Mechanics from the National Security Space Institute; Certification in DoD Requirements Management from Defense Acquisition University.

Mayflower Communications Company Inc.is a technology leader in advanced radio navigation, anti-jam and wireless communications technologies. Mayflower is at the forefront of GPS receiver technology with a broad portfolio of product solutions for government and commercial customers. For over twenty-eight years, Mayflower has been leading technology and product development of high-performance size, weight and power (SWaP)-optimized, affordable solutions to address evolving military technology needs in challenged operational environments.

The Navy’s Communications and GPS Navigation Program Office (PMW/A 170) mounted a Small Antenna System on an Aerostar unmanned aircraft then placed it in a room lined with signal-absorbent material, where it was subjected to GPS jamming signals at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. Part of an initiative to protect GPS technologies on small unmanned aerial vehicles, the Navy conducted the tests in July to demonstrate how miniaturized GPS protection devices can prevent interruption of the mission-critical global positioning data. (U.S. Navy photo)

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. — Part of an initiative to protect GPS technologies on small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), the Navy recently conducted tests to demonstrate how miniaturized GPS protection devices can prevent interruption of this mission-critical global positioning data.

From July 10 to 24, the Communications and GPS Navigation Program Office (PMW/A 170), headquartered in San Diego, mounted a Small Antenna System (SAS) on an Aerostar unmanned aircraft, then placed the small UAV in a room lined with signal-absorbent material at the FARM (Facilities for Antenna and RCS Measurements), where it was subjected to GPS jamming signals.

Equipped with model jammers, the FARM facility was used as a stage for the “enemy” to jam the GPS signal and try to knock the UAV off course, said Eric Stevens, the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Communications and Navigation lead for PMW/A-170, which supplied the antenna system. Knocked off course, the UAV would not be able to relay critical intelligence back to the ground control station — disrupting communications among U.S. and allied forces’ ships, aircraft and submarines. In a worst-case scenario, GPS jamming could even cause UAVs to crash.

“If an enemy is trying to jam, or interfere, with the GPS frequency, this antenna allows us to be able to track and acquire the true GPS satellites even in the midst of this jamming and interference,” Stevens said. “What we are doing is demonstrating and quantifying the value of this antenna on small UAVs.”

PMW/A-170, aligned under the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., and the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command in San Diego partnered with Naval Test Wing Atlantic, which supplied the Aerostar, to conduct July’s testing.  Personnel and teams from the Maritime Unmanned Development and Operations (MUDO); the Navy and Marine Corps Small Tactical Unmanned Air Systems Program Office (PMA 263); and an engineering team from the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division’s Radar and Antenna Systems Department also supported the event.

Personnel involved in the testing were optimistic about the results.

Part of an initiative to protect GPS technologies on small unmanned aerial vehicles, the Navy recently conducted tests on an Aerostar unmanned aircraft at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., to demonstrate how miniaturized GPS protection devices can prevent interruption of the mission-critical global location data. (U.S. Navy photo)

“We are hoping to gain some ground and show there are smaller GPS protection solutions out there,” said Michelle Jackson, an electronics engineer with experience in testing SAS systems on other platforms.

Equipped with the SAS, the Aerostar will be also used to support a U.S. Army pre-deployment war-game scenario conducted at Fort Polk, La., in August, said Donn Rushing, the project lead for MUDO. Rushing participated in the Fort Polk exercises last year and said the addition of the GPS anti-jamming antenna will give the “good guys” an edge this year.

“This new anti-jam system decreases the footprint normally required of such a system, which is now ideal for UAV incorporation and service,” Rushing said. “What makes us smarter is knowing our enemies are smart and that we have to stay one step ahead of them. The SAS development is the latest GPS anti-jam capability to aid the warfighter in combating the bad guys.”

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U.S. Patent for Anti-Jam Protected GPS-based Measurement of Roll Rate and Roll Angle of Spinning Platforms issued to Mayflower Communications Company, Inc.