Next Generation Combined Navigation and Communications Satellites: GMSP

December 2001

The Air Force's Space and Missile Systems Command (SMC), Command, Control, Intelligence, Surveillance and Recognizance Center (AFC2ISRC), and Electronic Systems Center (ESC), together with The MITRE Corporation and The Aerospace Corporation, are investigating the future merger of military navigation and communications satellite services. The Global Multi-mission Support Platform (GMSP) is an ongoing concept study to determine the most cost-effective method of fulfilling numerous critical communications requirements within a portion of the Global Positioning System (GPS) constellation architecture.

GMSP addresses several existing and emerging needs. Of primary concern to both military and civilian users is the ability to provide the position, velocity, and time functions of GPS as a global continuous navigation capability. The military is also searching for a means of providing protected navigation for friendly forces in-theater.

There are also critical shortfalls in defense communication services within and between military theaters. These include services for imagery transfer, tracking of U.S. and allied forces and equipment, and numerous point-to-point and networked services. Increasing the availability of modern communication capabilities, specifically Low Probability of Interception/Detection (LPI/LPD) communication, is a requirement for modern military operations.

The goal of the GMSP proposal is to provide a constellation of multimission satellites. These satellites will orbit in some of the present GPS satellite orbital locations and provide the present and planned navigation and nuclear detection services of GPS. Plus, the high-powered military signals of the GMSP satellites will help defeat aggressive jamming attempts.

Additionally, this subconstellation will provide a combination of narrow and wide-band communications services for military and intelligence community users worldwide.

The medium Earth-orbiting GMSP satellites will be available across the globe, including the arctic. Moreover, these orbits will allow frequency reuse from geosynchronous users. Some services will not require antenna pointing and could be used for airborne and hand-held operations.

The technical development of GMSP relies on several state-of-the-art technologies. In a cross-FFRDC effort, MITRE utilizes staff expertise in a variety of disciplines, including airspace operations, communications, anti-jamming technology, sensor and signal processing, and datalinks. MITRE staff in Massachusetts, Virginia, Colorado, and California support this effort.

Lead Communications Engineer Jim Johansen describes MITRE's role in GMSP development: "MITRE is a key player in the development of the communications, ground, infrastructure and command and control portions of the GMSP project. Our extensive experience in communications technology enables us to be major contributors in the development of meaningful state-of-the-art end-to-end communications systems. Our involvement in the project will help realize the first fielded IP based global grid space asset."

MITRE has contributed to the evolution of GMSP since its inception at SMC/XR. In supporting our sponsors in developing this new capability, MITRE continues to contribute to the GMSP technical development and the evaluation of new mission areas. Currently, our GMSP work is supporting a number of command, control, and communication systems, including tactical airborne datalinks, imagery and video transfer, assuring a Global Grid compliant system, GPS radar applications, multi-mission user equipment, and tailored situational awareness.    

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