Thought leadership interview with Todd Peterson, Director for Navigation and Sensor Systems at BAE Systems.
Imagine this - an F-15E pilot, facing the life and death decision of using precision munitions to rescue a pinned down Special Forces team. In a split second decision, he puts his faith in the technology and saves our forces with no collateral damage. This true account from a pilot overseas is why I have made developing life-saving technology for our men and women on the frontlines my life’s work.
As the Director of Engineering for Navigation and Sensor Systems at BAE Systems, my purpose goes beyond supporting a product line – it is a heartfelt commitment to the well-being and success of our warfighters. Each day, I draw inspiration from the impact products like our NavGuide™ technology has on the lives of those dedicated to safeguarding our nation.
NavGuide offers dependable Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) information, even in the harshest and most challenging conditions. Recognizing the need for a cost-effective upgrade to the current Defense Advanced GPS Receiver (DAGR™), we collaborated with user communities to design a portable Assured PNT device featuring M-code Global Positioning System technology. Among NavGuide’s updated, user-friendly features:
- A 30-second installation into existing DAGR receiver mounts and accessories
- A three-inch, full-color graphical user interface, as well as a moving map, situational awareness capabilities, and nine-line targeting
- Portable, versatile, and precise, and enables vehicular, handheld, sensor, and gun laying applications to defeat adversaries in a variety of challenging threat environments
As the U.S. continues to modernize its defense capabilities, we are confident NavGuide is a key technology that will sustain and maintain ground forces in a contested, multi-domain operations environment well into the future.
BAE Systems has more than four decades of military GPS equipment service and development. Our expertise, honed through the evolution of DAGR, puts us in the unique position of providing a seamless transition to NavGuide.
When I look towards the future I’m filled with excitement over the potential of NavGuide. The culmination of our collaborative efforts with end users has fielded a product that aids current warfighters and forms the foundation for future advancements. The impact of our work echoes from the battlefield back to our state-of-the art engineering and production facility in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
At its core, NavGuide encapsulates our company’s mission of protecting those who protect us. It will bring immediate value to our warfighters and provides a platform that can evolve with their needs. Empowering our armed forces to complete their missions and return home safely is why we come to work each day. BAE Systems' commitment to this cause is unbreakable, and I am eager to continue our journey, fueled by the knowledge that our work directly influences the security and success of the remarkable individuals who wear our nation's uniform and our allies across the globe.
