The Bottom Line Upfront
The United States military continues to pursue alternative systems to back up GPS due to concerns about signal disruption from adversaries. However, the development of systems solutions has found there is no one-size-fits-all solution.
Each alternative comes with trade-offs in terms of size, weight, power, and cost. Experts emphasize the need for a holistic strategy combining different techniques to create a reliable composite signal.
The Breakdown
- As GPS signals can be easily jammed or spoofed, the military must find alternative systems for positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) capabilities to ensure operational effectiveness on the battlefield.
- The military is exploring various alternative systems for alt-PNT (alternative positioning, navigation, and timing) to back up GPS. These systems include RF signals from other satellite constellations, signals of opportunity from cell towers and radio/TV towers, gravity-based inertial navigation systems, crustal magnetics, celestial navigation, remote sensing, and elevation/bathymetry measurements.
- Each method has its benefits and drawbacks, and a comprehensive evaluation is needed to determine their suitability for different military platforms and missions.
- The military's reliance on GPS for PNT capabilities makes it vulnerable to disruptions from adversaries. Developing a multi-system approach for alt-PNT is crucial to ensure operational resilience and maintain a technological advantage on the battlefield.
