TRX Systems is developing the next generation of its Dismounted Assured Positioning, Navigation, and Timing System (DAPS GEN III) for the U.S. Army, ensuring soldiers can maintain reliable PNT, even in contested environments where GNSS signals are compromised.
The GEN III project builds on the success of DAPS GEN II, also developed by TRX Systems, which has significantly improved soldiers’ situational awareness, enabling dismounted forces to shoot, move, and communicate effectively in evolving electronic warfare threat scenarios.
Key features
DAPS GEN III will feature:
Modularity – The new system will be more versatile, with interchangeable components such as antennas, power units, and displays. Modularity will allow mission-specific configurations, improved compatibility with other systems like Nett Warrior, and easier upgrades.
Advanced technologies – DAPS GEN III will integrate cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence for real-time threat detection, augmented reality for hands-free navigation, and a broader range of sensors like inertial measurement units (IMUs) and visual navigation tools to reduce GNSS dependence.
Non-space-based solutions – Understanding the threats to space-based GNSS systems, the Army is exploring alternative positioning, navigation and timing (AltPNT) technologies, including ground-based systems, resilient networks that synchronize data within units, and emerging quantum technologies for precise navigation without satellites.
Enhanced security – DAPS GEN III will prioritize resilience against electronic warfare by expanding Military Code (M-Code) usage for secure GPS functionality, improving resistance to jamming and spoofing, and implementing encryption to safeguard communications.
Timeline
A contract award for full-scale DAPS GEN III production is planned for fiscal year 2025, with operational units expected in the following years. Meanwhile, to constantly refine its battlefield PNT requirements, the U.S. Army conducts market research, including issuing requests for information (RFIs), and there are numerous, ongoing prototyping and testing activities underway, in simulated and real-world conditions, for a variety of PNT-related systems.
TRX Systems has long been a leader in the development of resilient PNT systems. With its expertise in sensor fusion, alternative PNT methods, and cybersecurity, the company continues to deliver important insights to the Army as it elaborates its vision for future, front-line, positioning and navigation technologies.
