BAE Systems has been awarded a $16 million contract from Collins Aerospace to design and develop the M-Code Global Positioning System (GPS) solution for the U.S. Navy’s Joint Precision Approach and Landing System (JPALS). BAE Systems will provide its Digital GPS Anti-Jam Receiver (DIGAR™-500M) to upgrade JPALS to M-Code, strengthening resilience during precision landings in all environments.
JPALS is the Navy’s next-generation GPS navigation system that guides aircraft to safe, accurate landings on aircraft carriers in all conditions, reducing pilot workload and enhancing operational capability. M-Code is the U.S. military’s encrypted GPS signal that improves anti-jamming performance and security.
“This award marks a significant milestone in the continued modernisation of JPALS, a mission-critical capability enabling safe, precision aircraft recoveries aboard Navy carriers in all weather and environments,” said Molly O’Brien, program manager for Airborne GPS at BAE Systems. “Integrating M-Code strengthens JPALS against evolving threats and ensures our warfighters maintain a decisive operational advantage.”
BAE Systems provides the current JPALS GPS solution, which utilises Selective Availability Anti Spoofing Module (SAASM) receivers. The company will leverage its DIGAR product line to support the Navy’s transition to M-Code. DIGAR-500M will enable dual SAASM and M-Code operations for precision carrier landings, supporting mixed-aircraft configurations and strengthening anti-jam and anti-spoof resilience.
DIGAR delivers advanced digital beamforming anti jam/anti spoof protection for assured positioning, navigation, and timing across airborne and maritime platforms, with up to twenty-four simultaneous steered beams for superior immunity in all operating environments.
BAE Systems’ comprehensive line of M-Code GPS and anti-jam products delivers efficient and reliable navigation and guidance solutions for airborne systems, precision munitions, handheld receivers, and embedded applications.
Work on BAE Systems’ military GPS products is performed at the company’s engineering and manufacturing facility in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
For more on BAE Systems’ military GPS solutions, please visit: https://baesystems.com/gps
