Interstate Gets GPS System Contract

It’s not all cars and computers in Orange County industry.

Interstate Electronics Corp. says it has been picked by Raytheon Texas Instruments Systems to supply a global positioning system--or GPS--for a new long-range shell being developed for the U.S. Army.

Global positioning uses radio signals from satellites to determine the precise location, anywhere on Earth, of people, vehicles or any other object equipped with a GPS receiver and decoder.

Those being developed for Raytheon by Anaheim-based Interstate are true heavy-duty models, designed to be mounted on 155-millimeter cannon projectiles and able to absorb tremendous shock when the weapon is fired. The projectiles use the GPS receivers as part of a “smart weapon” system that enables them to navigate their way precisely to their target.

The initial contract calls for Interstate to build and deliver 393 “development model” GPS receivers. Terms of the pact were not disclosed.

John O’Dell covers major Orange County corporations and manufacturing for The Times. He can be reached at (714) 966-5831 and at john.odell@latimes.com.