Kongsberg's third-generation High Precision Acoustic Positioning and Navigation System is now available, and improves on earlier capabilities.

The company says its new High Precision Acoustic Positioning and Navigation System, also known as HiPAP 502, is smaller, lighter and more accurate than earlier models. The product is designed to support scientific vessel offshore operations.

We are able to offer improved operation with HiPAP 502 thanks to our continuous development of the technology platform, making use of new electronic hardware and software, along with new electronic components," Kongsberg Maritime Sales Director Morten Berntsen said in a statement.

The third installment to the HiPAP series features a smaller transceiver unit that produces less heat, with no need for extra cooling in warmer environments. Other improvements to the system include battery life, filtering and signal processing. Kongsberg says HiPAP 502 is 100 percent accurate, capable of providing data from a range of 5,000 meters, or 16,404 feet.

"This new technology and our in-house system expertise comes together to deliver even more accuracy and reliability with every HiPAP generation," Berntsen added.

The first HiPAP 500 was introduced by Kongsberg Maritime in 1996, followed by the the release of HiPAP 501 in 2007.

Pentagon to re-examine Air Force GPS OCX program
Washington (UPI) Dec 2, 2015 -Pentagon officials are not satisfied with the Operation Control Segment program, and will meet with U.S. Air Force officials to discuss other options.

Department of Defense undersecretary for acquisition Frank Kendall told reporters on Wednesday the GPS OCX program is not "where we'd like it to be."

"There is a range of things we could do," Kendall said. "I don't want to say much more than that, but if you can imagine the range of things we'd do they are probably all under consideration at this point."

Space News reported last month that Raytheon's efforts to produce a ground system to control the next-generation GPS satellites were facing challenges, including several milestone delays.

"I want OCX to succeed desperately," Gen. John Hyten, commander of Air Force Space Command said. "But I also told [the acquisition community] if you see OCX not succeeding then you need to tell me that, and some of these low-level options we're working in the background, we'll up the priority on those. We'll make sure we can go a different direction."

The contract for the program, valued at approximately $1.6 billion in 2014, was awarded to Raytheon in 2010. The company completed launch readiness exercises in November. The program aims to improve cybersecurity for Lockheed Martin's GPS III to support both military and civilian uses.