Korean Aerospace, Thales To Jointly Develop Satellite Based Augmentation System For GPS

Korean Aerospace Research Institute will sign a $40 million deal with French Thales for the joint development of a new augmentation system for global positioning systems that will greatly reduce the scope and rate of errors in existing GPS.

The signing will be done on Wednesday to jointly develop a new and advanced Satellite Based Augmentation System for GPS by 2021, according to the South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Yonhap reported Tuesday.

The new SBAS will help reduce errors in aviation GPS, which currently occur at a rate of one in five million and by up to 16 meters horizontally and 20 meters vertically.

"By reducing the error and providing more accurate location of aircraft by using satellites, the SBAS is expected to help set the shortest air route possible while also helping reduce the cost of fuel for flights and thus expanding their capacities," the ministry said in a press release.

A separate agreement will be signed with the European Aviation Safety Agency to jointly verify the new GPS augmentation system following its development, it added.