Technology

Modern military combat operations were never the same after the successful application of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) by Coalition forces against Iraq’s military in 1991. GPS is a satellite-based radionavigation system and must be created, maintained, and upgraded all within the realm of space. The Gulf War is considered the world’s first space war since it utilized and relied heavily on the space-based GPS. GPS played a major role in the conflict and allowed Coalition forces to sweep through Iraq’s defenses at unprecedented speeds. GPS allowed for dominance on the battlefield in 1991, but can the technology keep up twenty years later?

Almost all Coalition military operations were supported by GPS during the Gulf War. Special Operators used it to operate effectively in enemy territory, artillery used it to target enemy positions, the Army utilized it to clear mine fields, the Navy received precise coordinates for its cruise missiles, the Air Force was able to operate in all weather, and so much more.[1] Coalition forces were able to move accurately in the endless desert, constantly remain in control, and successfully complete the envelopment maneuver to win the war. The U.S. Department of Defense sums up the efficiency of GPS in the Gulf War by stating, “The Global Positioning System allowed these and allied units to advance in a featureless desert at night, during inclement weather, and to engage Iraqi units with a lethal accuracy unknown to that point.”.[2]

Now, there were some slight hiccups implementing GPS for the first time on the battlefield. Receiver shortages, signal usages, establishing sets and terminal networks, linkage between field and command units, and familiarity with the new space equipment were all cause for concern prior to and during the first few days of battle.[3] However, these issues were all solved and ironed out eventually with GPS being hailed as an overall success on the battlefield.

To this day GPS is a vital cog in modern military machines and many would be lost without it. A few examples of modern GPS usage in the military include messaging, artillery support, aircraft tracking, guided bombs, surveying, long-range precision strikes from the sea, weather forecasting, drone surveillance, and terrain navigation. The U.S. military employs GPS in almost every operation from search and rescue missions to missile launches, reconnaissance and guiding unmanned systems.[4] Aside from its military applications, GPS has proven to be a civilian asset as well and has added $1.4 trillion dollars to the U.S. economy since the 1980’s.[5] DoD Chief Information Officer Dana Deasy stresses the importance of GPS stating, “We have a fundamental responsibility to protect GPS as it’s paramount to the safety of American citizens, as well as national and economic security.”.[6]

There is no doubt that GPS is vital to the U.S. and any other country with a modern military. Therefore, China, Russia, India, Japan, and the European Union have all developed their own form of GPS modeled after the U.S. However, the technology is not infallible and does pose problems for military leaders. Most notably, GPS can be jammed with something as simple as a cigarette lighter-powered electronic jammer you can purchase for $50.[7] Similarly, GPS does not work in all environments (dense forests, underground, underwater, etc.). So, you can imagine what a well-funded and organized military can do to another countries GPS signals in war. Additionally, with more satellites being launched into space every year it is starting to get crowded and space debris is becoming an issue. The United States DoD has even advocated loudly against allowing private U.S. based companies to create their own versions of GPS as it may interfere with their own and cause interference.[8]

Because of these issues, countries are always updating, innovating, and looking for solutions when it comes to GPS. For example, the U.S. has the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) continually researching and developing technological breakthroughs associated with GPS. Whereas, the Russian Federation has the Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities, who has significantly improved their satellite capabilities in the last few decades. Clearly, GPS will remain at the forefront of military operations in the short term. However, we will see if it can weather the issues currently facing it in today’s ever advancing world, or if it will be left behind for something new in the long term.

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[1] Spires, David N. Beyond Horizons: A Half Century of Air Force Space Leadership. Peterson Air Force Base, CO: Air Force Space Command in association with Air University Press, 2011.

[2] “Protecting America’s Global Positioning System.” U.S. Department of Defense. Accessed September 8, 2021. https://www.defense.gov/explore/spotlight/protecting-gps/.

[3] Spires, David N. Beyond Horizons: A Half Century of Air Force Space Leadership. Peterson Air Force Base, CO: Air Force Space Command in association with Air University Press, 2011.

[4] “Protecting America’s Global Positioning System.” U.S. Department of Defense. Accessed September 8, 2021. https://www.defense.gov/explore/spotlight/protecting-gps/.

[5] Ibid.

[6] Ibid.

[7] Keller, John. “GPS Jamming Is a Growing Threat to Satellite Navigation, Positioning, and Precision Timing.” Military and Aerospace Electronics, June 28, 2016. https://www.militaryaerospace.com/unmanned/article/16714759/gps-jamming-is-a-growing-threat-to-satellite-navigation-positioning-and-precision-timing.

[8] Sayler, Kelly, and John Hoehn. “DOD Concerns About the FCC-Approved Ligado Network.” Congressional Research Service, February 5, 2021. https://sgp.fas.org/crs/natsec/IN11400.pdf.