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What’s new: A letter from RNT Foundation members Gen. William Shelton, and CAPT Dana A. Goward to the Washington Post commenting on an article they published at the beginning of the year.
Why it’s important: From our perspective, the issue is not that GPS is both essential and vulnerable. It’s that no one in government, after 20+ years, is doing anything about it, despite the threats from our adversaries!
What else to know: Before its charter lapsed and the President’s National Space-based PNT Advisory Board was dissolved, they sent a similar message to the administration.
Readers on GPS, Venezuela and more
The Jan. 3 front-page article “GPS, a pillar of daily life, faces increasing attacks” was a great overview. And the writer was right to note that the Pentagon’s work to improve the system is going to make it only marginally better.
China and Russia both have terrestrial backup systems for their satellite-based positioning, navigation and timing while America does not. This means they can threaten GPS satellites without fear of repercussions. In fact, the U.S. has already experienced GPS blackmail. In November 2021, while massing troops along its border with Ukraine, Russia threatened to cripple GPS if NATO got in the way.
So how do we take the bullseye off the critical infrastructure GPS has become?
Government studies and advisory group recommendations over the past 20 years have called for pairing a relatively inexpensive terrestrial system with GPS. Making the terrestrial system widely available to the public would deter our adversaries and protect the nation in the event of attack, GPS anomaly or major solar disturbance.
Until the administration empowers a department or agency to protect GPS satellites, signals and users with a backup system, this clear and present danger to national security is only going to increase.
William Shelton, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Dana A. Goward, Alexandria
The writers are former members of the National Space-Based Positioning, Navigation and Timing Advisory Board. William Shelton was commander of the Air Force Space Command, and Dana A. Goward was director of the Marine Transportation Systems at the U.S. Coast Guard.
