ISRO has awarded $82 million contract to Raytheon to modernize the Indian air navigation system

The Indian Space Research Organization has awarded an $82 million contract to Raytheon Company to modernize the Indian air navigation system. Raytheon will build the ground stations for the GPS-Aided Geosynchronous Augmented Navigation System, and ISRO will provide the space segment and additional ground equipment. The project called GAGAN, will provide satellite-based navigation for civil aviation over Indian airspace and adjoining areas in South and East Asia. "GAGAN will be the world's most advanced air navigation system and further reinforces India's leadership in the forefront of air navigation," said Andy Zogg, Raytheon Network Centric Systems vice president of Command and Control Systems. "GAGAN will greatly improve safety, reduce congestion and enhance communications to meet India's growing air traffic management needs". "Our GAGAN solution addresses the four essential elements of safe air navigation: accuracy, integrity, availability and continuity," said Fritz Treyz, Raytheon Network Centric Systems director of Business Development who led the Raytheon team pursuing the GAGAN initiative. Mr. A. S. Ganeshan, GAGAN project director of ISRO Satellite Center, has led the ISRO team. Raytheon will continue the work it began several years ago and expects to have the GAGAN system fully functional by 2013.