Is there a silver bullet for resilient PNT? – Opinion in GPS World

May 2, 2025

Written by Editor

Image: US DOT and DOD

What’s new: An op-ed in GPS World by PNT expert Jules McNeff.

Why it’s important:

  • It’s an important topic. Especially as our dependence on GPS in the U.S. continues to grow, and threats continue to increase.
  • Jules has deep experience and expertise in PNT. He is a person worth listening to and taking seriously.

What else to know: 

  • The RNT Foundation tries to be technology agnostic. We have encouraged governments to implement technologies that they (the governments) have said they should/would implement. Our main message, though, has always been that governments should stop admiring the problem (so many studies!) and do something to make their countries safer. 
  • There is no silver bullet, though there are some technologies that have more benefits than others. At least a small number of diverse delivery modes acting together are needed. We have agreed with the government that a combination of signals from space, terrestrial broadcast, and fiber would be a great National Core PNT Architecture. One that would provide basic, utility-level, service to everyone, and provide a framework which existing and future commercial providers of P, N, and/or T could add to, improve and innovate on, and integrate with.

 

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Is there a silver bullet for resilient PNT?

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