FAA GPS Antenna Request for Information (RFI) Submission
The FAA has requested support from the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) to investigate the feasibility and expected performance of applying anti-jam (AJ)/anti-spoofing (AS) GPS/GNSS technology for use in civilian aircraft applications with an initial focus on Transport and Business Jet aircraft. NAWCAD is releasing this RFI on AJ/AS GPS/GNSS technologies for eventual use in civilian aircraft applications. This RFI is a study identifying and discussing the characteristics and performance of the vendors’ AJ and AS antenna technologies that are currently available or being developed. The information learned from this RFI may be used to identify potential systems for evaluation testing at NAWCAD. Results from the RFI data and future evaluation testing will be used to develop updated GPS/GNSS AJ/AS antenna Minimum Operational Performance Standards (MOPS) and cockpit displays/annunciation MOPS for the FAA.
NAWCAD/FAA GPS Antenna Industry Day
Live Recording available now. Password: SsFrm6Xa
NAWCAD is performing the study, collecting and evaluating the submissions, hosting the industry day(s), and establishing Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs) or technology agreements for test hardware, lab test, chamber test, and future flight test for the FAA. Submit your response to this RFI below.
Review the attached documents pertaining to the RFI:
As a reminder submissions should include:
- Applicable data/capabilities in the attached MS Excel spreadsheet named: Civilian GPS Advanced Antenna Matrix Template_R1.xls (available for download with the RFI).
- Technology data sheets
- User guides
- Interface documents
- Technology Roadmap and Questionnaire (available for download with RFI)
All information provided will be protected in compliance with DoD policy and proprietary markings. Data shared with the FAA will be protected in accordance with FAA Order 1600.75.
RFI
START DATE
FAA Antenna Questions Due
Final RFI Submissions Due
FAQ
The RFI documentation references a DD-401 Draft MOPS spec. May I request that spec for our response please? Is that something you can share with us?
The RTCA DOs are copywrited to the person downloading it. Below is the site for getting the RTCA documents. https://www.rtca.org/standards/publications/
Would you be interested in receiving a CUI tech briefing on technology?
Depending on the responses we receive yes we would like a CUI tech brief. Especially if your tech is selected to test and evaluate.
In the definitions for nulling, the first parameter is #4 (or #5 in other occasions)?
Nulling – # of nulls 4+. We stated 4+ nulls since in the past those antennas were ITAR restricted. As of September 25, 2025 they no longer will be. We want to push companies to go beyond what has been restricted in the past.
Can you elaborate on the value of this parameter ?, Does it mean “number of nulls”?
That is 4 or more nulls in the same band normally. That can be CRPA nulls and software null modes.
What exactly is being requested, when requesting information on the protections in each layer. Is relevant to EMC testing the unit has been subjected to/relevant standards compliance has been achieved?
For nulling, beam steering, jammer detection, spooring defection, anti- jammer solution, anti-spoofer solution and cockpit information communication for your current and future technology where would you need to put that capability. In what layer (unit or software) of the aircraft avionics system? Where would you locate the capability? It is preferred the antenna system would replace the current antenna and provide a GPS receiver RF signal.
Will the MOPs be available freely, who will be able to see the content suggested would be subject to the restrictions on access to the DO-401 document
From the information we receive for the RFI submittals, testing, and flight test we will be developing antenna specifications, interface documents for the antenna systems. These documents will be reviewed by the FAA and submitted to the RTCA SC-159 committee for their development of MOPS for civil aviation. In the future we will ask for industry input to the documents. The RTCA will ask for inputs as they always do. The final documents will be controlled by RTCA as DO-401is. We are asking for recommendations for changes and inclusions for future GNSS Resilient Antenna System.
What capacity is the beam-forming functionality is supporting i.e. steering nulls?
Beam forming is nulling and beam steering. Null steering and steering gain beams toward SVs
What if we are planning to submit to the RFI with a response that will be classified as secret level due to the proposed solution capabilities?
Make your submission package unclassified. Our requirements document, applications and technologies will be unclassified per the USAF GPS classification guide. Any testing we perform will be unclassified.
Could the FAA supply a copy of FAA Order 1600.75?
We are checking with FAA.
What are the required markings and/or distribution statement for the submissions?
Company XXX proprietary- Unclassified
Will the FAA/NAWCAD issue an anonymized report showing the test results of all systems?
We will try. It also depends on the willingness of the other vendors to have the report sent out with their anonymized data
What information or test results will each participant receive about their own system’s performance?
If NAWCAD tests one unit at a time then the vendor will be able to attend. We are planning on having the participant attend in person during the testing to answer questions only. They would be able to walk away with their system data. The receiver data would have to be releasable by the FAA. If we are testing more than one unit at a time then no attendance will be allowed. We would be able to provide unit data and the receiver data would have to be releasable by FAA.
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