NAVFEST: A Cost Effective Solution to GPS NAVWAR Testing

R. Vasta, M. Watson, K. LeBlanc

Abstract:	From 7 to 10 February 2011, the 746th Test Squadron (746 TS), located at Holloman Air Force Base (AFB), New Mexico (NM), planned and executed an innovative Global Positioning System (GPS) jamming program at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) NM. This program, known as NAVFEST, was aimed at providing low-cost, realistic, GPS jamming scenarios for testing GPS-based navigation systems, as well as training personnel in unique GPS-denied environments. Through sponsorship from the GPS Directorate and the 46th Test Group (46 TG), the 746 TS was able to provide this diverse testing and training opportunity at a significantly reduced cost to each participant. During NAVFEST, the 746 TS hosted multiple simultaneous, yet very dissimilar customers, including multi-service Department of Defense (DoD) agencies, several defense contractors, civil organizations, and two foreign nations. Their objectives ranged from training personnel on the effects of GPS jamming to characterizing the performance of prototype advanced anti-jam technologies against operationally realistic threats. To accomplish these goals, participants drove, flew, or walked through diverse jamming scenarios specifically tailored to stress the systems under evaluation. This paper details NAVFEST strategies and conduct, as well as participant objectives and future NAVFEST activities.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 24th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GNSS 2011) September 20 - 23, 2011 Oregon Convention Center, Portland, Oregon Portland, OR
Pages:	2047 - 2052
Cite this article:	Vasta, R., Watson, M., LeBlanc, K., "NAVFEST: A Cost Effective Solution to GPS NAVWAR Testing," Proceedings of the 24th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GNSS 2011), Portland, OR, September 2011, pp. 2047-2052.
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