StarNav LLC Awarded Phase II Air Force Contract
Small Business Technology Transfer Program
Riverside, CA, 03/02/2022 – StarNav LLC has been awarded a $750,000 contract from the United States Air Force AFWERX program. Under this contract, StarNav will tailor their alternative positioning system for use on U.S. Air Force aircraft during intentional GPS jamming tests.
The U.S. Air Force routinely conducts intentional GPS jamming events at various test centers to evaluate the performance of existing and new systems. These systems under test require a “ground truth” reference system. This contract will deliver a reference system that does not require the deployment of infrastructure or modifications to the external body of the aircraft, solving pain points in existing solutions.
StarNav will work in collaboration with the Operator Performance Laboratory (OPL) at Iowa Institute of Technology (IIT) to harden the system for aircraft use and perform initial system tests. To push the technology readiness level of the system, StarNav and OPL will conduct preliminary flight testing on an L-29 jet owned by OPL. The system will subsequently be flight tested at Edwards Air Force Base, starting later this year.
“The demonstration of GPS vulnerabilities in space and on the ground are increasing in numbers year by year. We are excited to be selected for this award, which gives us the opportunity to work with the U.S. Air Force and our university partner OPL to bring new position and navigation solutions to Department of Defense customers,” said Dr. Joshua Morales, CEO of StarNav.
“The new technology has the potential to make testing GPS easier and far less expensive,” added David Sunga, a navigation engineer at Edwards AFB.
“AFRL and AFWERX have partnered to streamline the Small Business Innovation Research process in an attempt to speed up the experience, broaden the pool of potential applicants and decrease bureaucratic overhead. Beginning in SBIR 18.2, and now in 22.1, the Air Force has begun offering ‘The Open Topic’ SBIR/STTR program that is faster, leaner and open to a broader range of innovations.” – AFWERX Team
About the U.S. Air Force AFWERX Program
As the innovation arm of the Department of the Air Force and powered by the Air Force Research Laboratory, AFWERX transitions agile, affordable, and accelerated capabilities by teaming innovative technology developers with Airmen and Guardian talent. The three core arms of AFWERX – AFVentures, Spark, and Prime – serve to expand the defense industrial base for advanced technologies, empower Airmen and Guardian talent, and drive faster technology transition to operational capability. AFWERX teams internationally across academia, industry, and government to develop technology, expand talent, and transition dual-use capabilities. Learn more at https://www.linkedin.com/company/afwerx-usaf/
About StarNav LLC
StarNav develops specialized front ends and receivers that convert ambient radio signals into PNT information to enhance intelligent system reliability. Whether a radio signal was transmitted for communication, internet, or PNT, StarNav’s products can leverage them using a single patent-pending product to provide PNT redundancy for safe system operation. Learn more at www.starnav.io or follow StarNav on LinkedIn @StarNav.
