By Anna Volkwine, Army Innovation Programs

WASHINGTON – Reliable position, navigation and timing is essential for U.S. Army Soldiers to safely and effectively maneuver and communicate. TRX Systems, winner of the Army xTech Program’s xTechSearch 3 competition, now fields its technology – the Dismounted PNT System Generation II, also known as DAPS GEN II – as a program of record  for the Army to provide Soldiers a continuous stream of PNT information, even when GPS is unavailable.

DAPS GEN II uses a variety of inputs to extend its location when adversaries intentionally jam or disrupt GPS signals, or when a Soldier lacks a clear view of the sky due to environmental challenges, such as dense tree canopies. The technology utilizes M-code, or military GPS, fused together with integrated inertial sensors and other PNT sources, offering continuous assured PNT in austere environments.

The system includes accessories, such as a watch for dismounted Soldiers, and seamlessly integrates with Nett Warrior, delivering assured PNT directly to Soldiers’ Army Tactical Assault Kits. These features ensure effective maneuverability and communication in GPS-denied environments and across a wide range of operational scenarios.

In March 2023, Army Program Executive Office for Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors  and Program Manager PNT awarded TRX Systems a seven-year, $402 million indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract for the procurement of DAPS GEN II for the Army. By October 2023, TRX Systems began large-scale deliveries of the system. Since then, the Army has issued multiple follow-on delivery orders, most recently in April 2025, to support the continued fielding of TRX Systems’ PNT capabilities to Soldiers operating in GPS-denied environments.

“With close collaboration with the Army, TRX developed the DAPS GEN II system to support operations throughout contested environments on a demanding schedule,” said Carol Politi, TRX Systems president and CEO.

Leading up to the IDIQ award, TRX Systems dedicated many years to developing and refining its PNT capabilities to meet Army requirements, which included support and financial assistance from the Army Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer and xTech Programs.

Army Innovation Programs Support Early Innovation

From 2008 to 2020, the Army SBIR|STTR Program awarded TRX Systems nearly $4 million in funding across multiple contracts, driving the refinement of their PNT capabilities. Building on years of follow-on funding and  product development, TRX Systems won the Army’s open-topic xTechSearch 3 competition in 2020 for its NEON technology, earning over $380,000 in cash prizes. NEON fuses satellite-based PNT data with inputs from inertial sensors, map data and other sources to track a user’s position, serving as a baseline for development of DAPS GEN II.

In addition to the financial benefits, the company received feedback from Army stakeholders and end-users on its solution through the xTech Program, allowing TRX Systems to better understand the Army’s ongoing PNT challenges and refine its messaging to address these evolving needs.

“We changed and adapted our focus from indoor to outdoor navigation to meet evolving Army market needs related to assured PNT. The array of stakeholders we interacted with in xTech helped us refine our messaging to the Army,” Politi said.

Politi noted that the Army’s Innovation programs, including SBIR|STTR and xTech, are complementary to each other to help companies develop and refine their technologies and aim for contracts in support of Soldier readiness.

“As TRX was learning about product transition during xTech, we also received an additional Army SBIR Phase II contract to mature the exact same technology. Three years later, the Army awarded us the [IDIQ contract] PoR,” Politi said. “xTech is one of a number of complementary innovation programs that the Army extends to companies to support their transition.”

Today, TRX Systems continues to press forward with its mission to provide assured PNT to dismounted Soldiers. PM PNT received approval for full-rate production of DAPS GEN II in September 2024, marking the transition from low-rate initial production to full-scale manufacturing of TRX’s DAPS GEN II. TRX Systems now rapidly produces and delivers an undisclosed number of systems to the Army.

Army Innovation Programs, including SBIR|STTR and xTech, open the door for innovators to partner with the Army and deliver critical Soldier capabilities. TRX Systems’ success is a testament to how the programs can support innovation during the development stages to meet Army requirements. Dismounted Soldiers now have access to DAPS GEN II as a directed and funded Army PoR to keep Soldiers safe and maneuverable in contested environments.

About the Army SBIR|STTR Program

Army SBIR continuously releases funding opportunities, including Phase I funding for commercially viable, feasible, and technically sound solutions. Firms with mature technologies meeting Phase I requirements can advance to Phase II or go directly to Direct to Phase II contracts. Throughout the process, technical, acquisition, and operational Army experts guide businesses to align their innovations with the Army’s critical needs.

Army STTR integrates small businesses in the Army innovation ecosystem by partnering them with universities, federally funded research and development centers, or qualified non-profit research institutions, with small businesses as the prime contractors. Small businesses must function as prime contractors, performing at least 40 percent of the work while research partners perform at least 30 percent.

ASA(ALT) leverages innovative technologies to give Soldiers a decisive advantage in any environment by developing, acquiring, fielding, and sustaining the world’s finest equipment and services. For more information, visit the ASA(ALT) web page and follow @ArmyASAALT.

About the Army xTech Program

Since its inception in 2018, the Army xTech Program has become a catalyst for innovation, bridging the gap between emerging technology developers with Army stakeholders. More than just competitions, xTech provides participants with essential feedback, training, and meaningful opportunities to network. By hosting multiple competitions annually, the program accelerates the development of dual-use technologies that directly address Army needs, enabling innovators to refine their solutions, navigate the defense ecosystem, and transition towards partnerships that deliver meaningful capabilities to Soldiers.

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