The Global Positioning System (GPS) made its combat operations debut during Operation Desert Storm. Since then, it has evolved into a ubiquitous presence in our everyday lives that helps keep billions of people around the world on track and on time.
According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology, GPS has provided more than $1.4 trillion in economic benefits to the United States. The military, civil, commercial and scientific success of this satellite system further reinforces the adage, “Economic security is national security.” Nowhere is this more evident than in the Department of Defense (DOD).
From a technical and operational standpoint, the brilliance of DOD’s prescient selection of signals transmitted by GPS satellites remains apparent today. America’s warfighters depend on encrypted military GPS signals to execute kinetic operations. Yet, the critical nature of GPS civil signals for military operations — particularly in keeping our armed forces fueled, supplied and transported to hotspots around the globe, and to rapidly replenish and maintain satellite constellations — is often overlooked.
It may seem counterintuitive, but initiatives that divert funds to build “military only” GPS satellites operating in medium Earth orbit that focus solely on executing kinetic missions create challenges for our national security. Given today’s threats, resilience in the nation’s space-based position, navigation and timing (PNT) architecture makes sense. Resiliency can only be achieved by funding programs that make kinetic and other military operations possible. Resiliency occurs when you add orbital, signal and spectrum diversification to the mix. An on-orbit PNT architecture that features a “military only” future GPS satellite constellation does not create resiliency.
GPS is one of the most successful DOD programs of our time — one that has yielded exceptionally successful military-civil-commercial partnerships — precisely because satellites that transmit timing, military and civil signals are fiscally responsible, serve various purposes, and are technically and operationally sound. Congress must invest in the next generation of GPS satellites that include all three signals, and fund programs incorporating PNT satellites operating in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) that offer orbital, signal, and spectrum diversification, further increasing the resiliency of the nation’s PNT architecture.
Keeping American military and economic power fueled
GPS and other Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) have transformed the oil and gas industry, which fuels military operations around the world. According to the Government Accountability Office, the DOD is the government’s largest purchaser and consumer of bulk fuel, purchasing $10.3 billion in 2022. In addition, commercial airlines, which transport DOD service members, civilians, and contractors on temporary duty to over 4,800 sites in 160 countries, used $1.4 million of jet fuel per day in 2023. Furthermore, national security, civil, and commercial satellites — all relied upon by DoD — are launched into space using a combination of specialized rocket petroleum products and liquid oxygen.
Civil signals are key to optimizing land and offshore seismic surveys, ensuring that wells are drilled in deposit-rich areas. Precision and safety are vital to these drilling operations, and GPS/GNSS provide centimeter-level accuracy throughout the process. Satellite systems are also used to determine the location and timing of vehicles that transport supplies and equipment for remote operations. They’re also vital in conservation efforts by installing receivers along pipelines to identify leaks or issues that could lead to spills.
Weathering Storms with GPS
Weather is one of the reasons that “Flexibility is the key to airpower,” a mantra coined by Italian General Giulio Douhet in the 1920s, remains relevant today. Air Force weather teams support Air Force and Army conventional and special forces, along with joint, multinational and national agency operations.
The DoD plays a critical role in supporting civil authorities during emergencies, exemplified by U.S. Northern Command’s recent deployment to combat wildfires in Los Angeles. Weather satellites equipped with GPS receivers provide crucial data for accurate forecasting, enabling state and local officials to effectively deploy resources and firefighters from other U.S. states, Canada and Mexico to minimize further damage to property and save lives.
Beyond aiding disaster response, weather data provided to DoD, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Weather Service is crucial for military operations, impacting everything from mission planning and precision-guided munitions to intelligence gathering and space launches. Air Force Doctrine Publication J-59 notes, “Atmospheric weather affects space supporting ground sites and launch and recovery of space assets. For example, severe weather approaching a launch range can cause delay or damage to critical launch infrastructure and global space mission operations.”
As weather significantly influences warfighter operations, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of weather and other satellites is paramount. GPS receivers ensure the U.S. and its allies maximize every dollar spent on these satellites and their operations. They allow operators to perform upgrades and preventative maintenance on the satellites. To fully capture the value of weather information to DOD, it may be time for a slight tweak to the mantra: “Flexibility is the key to air and space power.”
National Security Runs on Precision and Digital Construction and Logistics
Any warfighter knows that successfully planning and executing logistics is critical to the fight. Can you imagine what renowned military strategists Sun Tzu and General Carl von Clausewitz would have accomplished with GPS-enabled global transportation infrastructure?
The DOD relies heavily on civil signals transmitted by GPS/GNSS satellites for efficient and safe construction, infrastructure development and logistical operations. GPS-enabled digital construction technology expedites the building of military installations, such as ports, piers, runways and warehouses. At the same time, GPS-tracked trains transport heavy equipment and add a layer of safety and protection for people living and working along train routes. The Civil Reserve Air Fleet, crucial for airlift during crises, depends on GPS civil signals as the de facto global standard for international air navigation. Furthermore, commercial delivery services like FedEx, UPS and DHL utilize GPS to ensure the timely delivery of vital supplies to military facilities worldwide, optimizing logistics and ensuring seamless operations.
DOD’s innovative GPS design, transmitting timing, military, and civil signals, were engineering and budget-smart. This three-in-one approach not only ensures precise positioning and navigation for military and civilian users but also supports critical infrastructure like communication networks and power grids. With an over 99% availability rate and averaging one meter-level accuracy, GPS delivers significant economies of scale and value for U.S. taxpayers.
Though less prominent than the GPS-encrypted military signals that grab headlines, GPS civil signals are just as vital for military operations, powering everything behind the scenes. Future enhancements, including new satellites and LEO-based PNT systems, will further strengthen the resilience and capabilities of the U.S. PNT architecture for all users.
Federal government investment in GPS and LEO PNT will provide a key advantage in the great power competition that is upon us. In countless ways, the combination of civil and military GPS signals enables every aspect of military operations and has been a major supporting engine for national security. GPS represents one of the greatest DOD success stories of our time.
Lisa Dyer is the executive director of the GPS Innovation Alliance.
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