Holloman Air Force Base-Innovative test and evaluation functions mark the unique test activity of the 704th test group and the 746th test squadron, namely NAVFEST, which is the annual high-tech event series of global positioning system electronic warfare. This year's NAVFEST will be held from March 11th to 16th.
Originally called JAMFEST, this event began in the early 2000s as a low-cost, high-fidelity opportunity for military, government, and corporate departments to test their guidance and navigation systems in the GPS competitive environment.
This year, when 30 well-trained 746 TS team members blocked GPS signals in space, 14 client organizations each day evaluated the performance of their equipment and systems on the ground and in the air at the Baisha Missile Range.
Just like a mobile phone in your pocket, almost all modern technologies that can fly in the air, manipulate or navigate our waterways on the ground rely on GPS signals for location, navigation and timing. Any government or non-governmental organization participating in this year's NAVFEST will accept a five-day exposure of the highly competitive GPS operating environment in the real world, with an average of only US$28,000.
The developers and users of these navigation systems evaluated the performance of their equipment in this challenging environment to identify and correct any flaws and weaknesses in the design. The lessons learned at NAVFEST will help these organizations conduct military operations against GPS jammer in theaters, support humanitarian efforts and recovery from global natural disasters, and ensure the continued operation and protection of the US motherland.
The 746th Test Squadron, also known as the Central Inertial and GPS Test Facility (CIGTF), is the lead test organization designated by the US Department of Defense, with 60 years of experience in inertial, GPS and hybrid guidance and navigation systems testing.
