The Indian Space Research Organisation has awarded an $82m contract to Raytheon to build ground stations that will help provide navigation for the country’s civil aviation.

ISRO’s GPS-Aided Geosynchronous Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) System will improve safety, lessen congestion and advance communications to meet India’s growing air traffic management needs, according to Raytheon Network Centric Systems vice-president of Command and Control Systems Andy Zogg.

GAGAN will offer satellite-based navigation for civil aviation over Indian airspace and areas in South and East Asia.

The space segment and the additional ground equipment for the satellite system will be provided by ISRO.

The GAGAN system will be operational by 2013.