DoD, contractors and civil agencies stage 2nd GPS JAMFEST

GPS World, Sept, 2004

Department of Defense (DoD) organizations and contractors, and civil agencies, are preparing to jam November 1-5 at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico's Tularosa Basin. The groups plan to hold the 2nd GPS JAMFEST at the 3,200-square-mile range to test real-life signal jamming scenarios and the effectiveness of advanced anti-jamming technologies.

Conducted by the 746th Test Squadron, the inaugural event took place at the White Sands Missile Range May 24-28, 2004, and drew 12 multiservice DoD organizations and several civilian contractors and agencies.

Paul Benshoof, director of the GPS Test Center of Expertise and coordinator of the JAMFEST, said the first event allowed participants to jointly test 59 jamming scenarios for approximately $85,000 total--just about one-eighth of the projected $660,000 it would have cost to conduct the same GPS jamming and anti-jamming tests separately.

"We are giving anyone in need of GPS jamming an outlet to test their GPS assets," said Lt. Col. Eric Lagier, 746th Test Squadron Commander. "Both the military and civilian sectors can benefit from this event, since our jamming environment targets potential weaknesses in all GPS receivers.

"Identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities in military applications is a chief concern, but because civilian receivers are used throughout much of our national critical infrastructure, this type of testing has a direct impact on addressing homeland security concerns as well," Lagier said.

746th Test Squadron engineers plan to provide GPS jamming operations from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. on test days. The evening tests allow for minimal collateral impact albeit already on controlled range space.

The 746th Test Squadron will provide on-site technical experts to help resolve customer difficulties, and can assist in instrumentation and analysis support.

For more information on the November 1-5 GPS JAMFEST, please contact Benshoof by calling (505) 679-1769; faxing (505) 679-1759; or e-mailing paul. benshoof@46tg.af.mil, and visit www.gpstestcoe.com.