Unjammable Until Proven Jammed

The Canadian Army will soon run practical tests, or “missions,” on a recently approved anti-jamming device meant to help the Canadian military and its allies maintain a clear GPS signal even when hostile parties are attempting to jam their GPS. The GPS device that has been approved for the field run is the NovAtel GAJT-700ML antenna that is considered to be a pre-commercialized product for NovAtel. The field run will test the availability and reliability of the device in combat situations during battlefield days in March.

Canadian Government Working with Civilian Contractors

The current arrangement between the Canadian government and the civilian contractors involved in this project falls under the work of the Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC). The PWGSC selected the contract from the Calgary, Alberta based Canadian company. This arrangement was also facilitated by the Canadian government’s Build in Canada Innovation Program (BCIP), which is involved with trying to create a safer and more secure government while also creating and allowing for more innovation from Canadian companies. The focus of the group is to especially target products that are in the later developmental stages and are presently pre-commercial.

What Happens on the Battlefield Stays on the Battlefield

Once the battlefield days begin, the GAJT-700ML will be tested for both availability and reliability. By military standards, the availability part of the equation will test and determine whether or not the GPS anti-jamming device can be ready at a moment’s notice under the conditions presented. It must be able to function as advertised to maintain the safety of the soldiers that are meant to be protected from this device. The reliability part of the equation will be determined at the end of each mission, or about a 24 hour window of operations. Reliability for military purposes in regards to GPS anti-jamming devices indicate that the device can not only function properly at startup, but also maintain functionality throughout the mission and over the entirety of several missions.

Timeline of the Testing Missions:

Date	Event
January 2014	NovAtel announces agreement to test out the GAJT-700ML antenna with the Canadian Army
Early March 2014	Field testing begins with battlefield days
End of March 2014	After several battlefield days to confirm the availability and reliability of the anti-jamming device, the unit will be able to be evaluated to bring the testing period to a close

What’s in a Name?

The GAJT-700ML is just one of the available GPS anti-jamming devices that NovAtel is in the process of developing. They also have a GAJT-700MS, which creates GPS anti-jamming capability on ocean going vessels. This device will be able to function properly on both smaller boats and larger watercraft. There is also a GAJT-AE which is more portable and suitable for smaller scale activities. There is a possibility for advanced connections between NovAtel and the Canadian Army if the GAJT-700ML delivers the performance it promises.

How does the GAJT-700ML Work?

The jamming of signals and frequencies seems so farfetched, even in today’s world, that many don’t understand the importance of this kind of technology. This is not sci-fi and old space movies. GPS has become integral to the navigation and planning systems of many military and civilian devices. There exists technology today that can prevent devices from receiving GPS signals from the satellites. In a military situation, this can mean everything, as so many vehicles are equipped with GPS devices that will not run without receiving the signal from the GPS. Whole armies and navies could be rendered useless if the enemy uses jamming technology. It is this fear of the worst case scenario that justifiably runs up the urgency in having anti-jamming technology for military use. The particular device here works by using a null-forming technology that prevents jammers from jamming signals received by GPS devices on the land vehicles of the military.

Government Alphabet Soup

This project is important enough to get several levels of military involvement taking place. The main group given authority here is the PWGSC, but it also involves the DND (Department of National Defense), DLR (Directorate of Land Requirements), QETE (Quality Engineering Test Establishment), and the LFTEU (Land Force Trials and Evaluation). The testing of the device will be under the watch of the DND, which is tasking the main responsibilities to the QETE and LFTEU. Once the tests begin, the Artillery OPV (Observation Post Variants), which is part of the LAV III (Light Armored Vehicle III), will give the GAJT-700ML a run for its money as they put it through a variety of tests to see how effective and reliable the GPS anti-jamming device can be in the field.

Once these tests are completed, the Canadian military will be able to begin implementation of the anti-jamming device on its other land-based vehicles. If the GAJT-700ML proves to in fact be unjammable, at least to the military’s specifications, the Canadian military will have another tool at its disposal to help make Canada and the world a safer place.

Unjammable Until Proven Jammed