BLOOMFIELD, N.J., Jan. 24 (UPI) -- ITT Exelis is to research the potential for small satellite navigational payloads to augment the Global Positioning System program of the U.S. military.
ITT Exelis said it received a $2.15 million contract for the research from the Air Force Research Laboratory under the GPS Navigational Satellite program.
The company reported that work to identify innovative ways to increase affordability and sustainment of the GPS program through payload weight reduction, size and power will be performed over an 18-month period at company facilities in Clifton, N.J. and Bloomfield, N.J.
"The development of smaller satellites -- in terms of size, weight, power and cost -- will yield greater affordability for our customers," said Mark Pisani, vice president and general manager, Precision Instruments and Positioning, Navigation and Timing Systems, of Exelis Geospatial Systems. "A smaller satellite size will allow for improved launch vehicle selection flexibility."
The GPS NAVSAT aims to produce enhancements that maintain similar GPS performance capabilities as now but also enhances performance in signal-constrained environments.
