Summary: Joint and international warfighters participated in a real-world day and night field exercise where they tested SSC’s new Joint Modernized Handheld Next-Gen GPS receiver. U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Space Force, along with Norwegian and French personnel, provided real-time feedback during testing and monitoring of the near-final hardware and software.
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. - U.S. Space Force (USSF) Space Systems Command (SSC) hosted a Military GPS User Equipment (MGUE) Objective C Demonstration 2 (Demo C2) testing exercise at Fort Knox, Kentucky, in partnership with Technology Advancement Group (TAG). The three-day event held June 3–5, 2025 put the newest iteration of the Joint Modernized Handheld (JMHH) multi-mission tool with access to Military-Code (M-Code) in the hands of joint warfighters and international personnel during mounted and dismounted day and night operations. The JMHH device expands the use of M-Code beyond platforms within the air, sea, and land domains to individual warfighters anywhere in the world and across any operational environment.
During the demo, U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Space Force, and Norwegian and French personnel shared real-time user feedback during testing and monitoring for application to final hardware and software prior to JMHH’s initial release.
“Feedback from this demonstration tells us exactly what upgrades the users need, when they need it, and how they need it,” says USSF Col. Matt Spencer, outgoing SSC Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Systems Delta (PNT SYD) commander. “Through this close integration with sister components and industry partners, we are able to come up with a well-rounded product to ensure the warfighter’s success.”
This JHMM initial Increment 1 variation has several benefits that exceed those of the current U.S. Department of Defense’s secure GPS handheld receiver, AN/PSN-13 Defense Advanced GPS Receiver (DAGR). such as the capability to acquire the modernized M-Code signal.
With M-Code, JMHH allows warfighters to fix their location faster and provides improved anti-spoof, anti-jam, and anti-tamper capabilities with low power options, which will be able to capitalize on the current satellite architecture that utilizes M-Code. JMHH brings assurance that the signal received can be trusted.
“The new technology recognizes instances of spoofing resulting in false positioning, and will tell the warfighter, hey, don't trust this. Something's going on here,” emphasizes Spencer.
Under the MGUE Increment 2 (Inc. 2) Program, the JMHH will continue to evolve to provide superior anti-spoof, anti-jam, and anti-tamper capabilities. It will offer enhanced battery performance and will adopt the next generation 14-nanometer ASIC industry standard. It is slated to replace the DAGR, which has been in service since 2005.
MGUE Inc. 2 and the JMHH multi-mission tool are part of the SSC’s Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Systems Delta within the Command’s Military Communications and Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Program Executive Office, SSC’s PNT SYD designs, develops, and delivers resilient, interoperable, secure, and cutting-edge PNT capabilities with speed, accuracy, and precision to increase Warfighter readiness and ensure space superiority.
On August 8, 2025, SSC’s PNT SYD had a change of command ceremony where USSF Col. Matt Spencer relinquished command to the new incoming PNT SYD Commander, USSF Col. Neil B. Barnas.
Space Systems Command is the U.S. Space Force field command responsible for acquiring, developing, and delivering resilient capabilities to outpace emerging threats and protect our Nation’s strategic advantage in, from, and to space. SSC manages a $15.6 billion annual space acquisition budget for the Department of Defense, working with joint forces, industry partners, government agencies, academia, and allied nations. For more information, visit ssc.spaceforce.mil and follow @USSF-SSC on LinkedIn.
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