Calgary-based NovAtel has been awarded a contract by Public Works and Government Services Canada to test its GAJT-700ML antenna on Canadian Army armored vehicles. The GAJT-700ML is the world’s first single-unit GPS anti-jam antenna system for land vehicles.
The award, part of PWGSC’s Build in Canada Innovation Program (BCIP) under its “safety and security” priority area, means Public Works will acquire an undisclosed number of GAJT-700MLs on behalf of the Department of National Defense. NovAtel submiited its technology to the program in 2012. To be accepted, a product must have an agency or department to sponsor it.
The Directorate of Land Requirements, with the assistance of the Quality Engineering Test Establishment and the Land Force Trials and Evaluation Unit, will oversee all testing on DND’s behalf. Field testing, centered on battlefield days, is expected to take place in early March at 4th Canadian Division Support Garrison Petawawa. The battlefield days will analyze the performance of GAJT on the Artillery Observation Post Variants of the Light Armored Vehicle III in operational conditions to confirm the suitability and robustness of GAJT-700ML for this role. The process is expected to be completed by the end of March.
“The Canadian Army requires accurate, secure and reliable access to Global Positioning Systems to conduct operations throughout the full spectrum of conflict in all potential theatres of operation,” explained Colonel Andrew Jayne, Director Land Requirements. “With the ever-increasing demands on the electromagnetic spectrum and threat of harmful interference, technologies which contribute to the assurance of position and timing information are a critical enabler of Army and Canadian Armed Forces operations in today and tomorrow’s operating environment.”
GAJT is a null-forming technology that negates jammers, ensuring the satellite signals necessary to compute position and time are always available. NovAtel manufactures three categories of GAJT, one for land vehicles, one for marine vessels, and one for use with an external antenna in size and weight constrained applications.
Jason Hamilton, vice president of marketing and product management stated, “NovAtel has worked closely with Canadian and Allied defence agencies to test the resilience of the GAJT-700ML in challenging jamming environments. The BCIP program provides an opportunity to expand this testing to incorporate end user soldier feedback on the installation and operational effectiveness of GAJT during battlefield usage of the LAV OPV. This invaluable feedback will be used by NovAtel to further drive product innovation in support of Canada and its Allied partners.”