Raytheon [RTN] has completed contractor acceptance and inspection for the Federal Aviation Administration’s Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), a component in the agency’s next-generation space-based aircraft navigation and landing system. The FAA took delivery of the system two months ahead of schedule, clearing the way for it to start operational test and evaluation, with certification for instrument flight rule navigation to follow later this year.

WAAS will consist of 25 reference stations, two master stations, and four uplink stations to two geosynchronous satellites, which together broadcast a signal across the national airspace system. This signal augments the basic Global Positioning System signal to improve its accuracy, continuity, integrity and availability.