{"id":90361,"date":"2026-10-02T01:32:44","date_gmt":"2026-10-01T17:32:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/bae-systems-awarded-16-million-collins-aerospace-contract-to-deliver-m-code-gps-for-u-s-navy-carrier-landings\/"},"modified":"2026-10-02T01:32:44","modified_gmt":"2026-10-01T17:32:44","slug":"bae-systems-awarded-16-million-collins-aerospace-contract-to-deliver-m-code-gps-for-u-s-navy-carrier-landings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/bae-systems-awarded-16-million-collins-aerospace-contract-to-deliver-m-code-gps-for-u-s-navy-carrier-landings\/","title":{"rendered":"BAE Systems Awarded $16 Million Collins Aerospace Contract to Deliver M-Code GPS for U.S. Navy Carrier Landings"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cedar Rapids, Iowa \u2014 On Thursday, October 1, 2026, defense prime BAE Systems received a $16 million contract from Collins Aerospace to design and integrate an M-Code Global Positioning System (GPS) solution for the U.S. Navy\u2019s Joint Precision Approach and Landing System (JPALS). <\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n

Under the agreement, BAE Systems will supply its Digital GPS Anti-Jam Receiver (DIGAR-500M) to upgrade existing aircraft carrier landing infrastructure with military-grade, encrypted M-Code signal processing capabilities.<\/p>\n

The contract transition supports the U.S. Navy\u2019s broader requirement to protect precision approach navigation systems against electronic warfare, deliberate signal jamming, and spoofing attempts across contested maritime environments<\/sup>. JPALS functions as a high-precision, GPS-based auto-land guidance system that directs carrier-capable aircraft to safe, repeatable recoveries aboard naval vessels in adverse weather and zero-visibility conditions<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

SAASM-to-M-Code Navigation Modernization<\/h3>\n

The integration builds upon BAE Systems\u2019 long-standing role as the primary provider of GPS receiver hardware for the JPALS program<\/sup>. The legacy configuration relies on Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM) technology to process military satellite signals<\/sup>. Upgrading the system architecture to M-Code provides an encrypted, higher-power GPS signal specifically engineered to resist radio frequency interference and electronic countermeasure threats<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

The implementation of the DIGAR-500M hardware architecture enables concurrent SAASM and M-Code signal processing during flight operations<\/sup>. This dual-capability operational state allows Navy air wings to execute carrier recoveries across mixed fleets containing both legacy SAASM-equipped platforms and modernized M-Code aircraft<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Digital Beamforming and Signal Protection Architecture<\/h3>\n

The DIGAR-500M leverages advanced digital beamforming technology to maintain assured positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) data during critical landing phases<\/sup>. The receiver creates up to 24 simultaneous steered spatial beams directed toward operational GPS satellites, effectively isolating valid satellite navigation signals while nullifying electronic jamming emitters operating on surrounding frequencies<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

By isolating signal vectors at the antenna processing stage, the receiver maintains high signal-to-noise ratios even when operating within heavy RF disruption zones<\/sup>. The system provides anti-jam and anti-spoof protection across fixed-wing, rotary, and uncrewed airborne platforms, as well as surface vessel installations<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Executive Perspective on Fleet Protection<\/h3>\n

\u201cThis award marks a significant milestone in the continued modernization of JPALS, a mission-critical capability enabling safe, precision aircraft recoveries aboard Navy carriers in all weather and environments,\u201d said Molly O\u2019Brien, Program Manager for Airborne GPS at BAE Systems<\/sup>. \u201cIntegrating M-Code strengthens JPALS against evolving threats and ensures our warfighters maintain a decisive operational advantage<\/sup>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Manufacturing Footprint and Delivery Schedule<\/h3>\n

Engineering design, software integration, and hardware fabrication for the DIGAR-500M units will take place at BAE Systems\u2019 dedicated military GPS engineering and manufacturing complex in Cedar Rapids, Iowa<\/sup>. Deliveries under the $16 million contract will support ongoing system integration tests with Collins Aerospace prior to fleet-wide deployment across U.S. Navy aircraft carrier strike groups<\/sup>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Cedar Rapids, Iowa \u2014 On Thursday, October 1, 2026, defense prime BAE Systems received a $16 million contract from Collins Aerospace to design and integrate an M-Code Global Positioning System (GPS) solution for the U.S. Navy\u2019s Joint Precision Approach and Landing System (JPALS). Under the agreement, BAE Systems will supply its Digital GPS Anti-Jam Receiver […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-90361","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/90361"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=90361"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/90361\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=90361"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=90361"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=90361"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}