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What’s new: Another great opinion piece by Sean Gorman.
Why it’s important:
- The U.S. government “Doing the same thing and expecting different results is…”
- GPS satellites are great! They do exactly what they are supposed to do. That isn’t where the problem lies. The problem is that these kinds of signals are weak and therefore easily jammed, and specs are public so they are easily spoofed.
- Two items from the article for the way forward:
- Layered architectures: Combine GPS with other space-based, terrestrial and non-GNSS systems so that disruption of any single layer does not result in mission failure.
- Co-equal alternatives: Terrestrial timing networks, low-frequency navigation systems and other non-space-based approaches should be integrated into operations rather than treated as backups of last resort.
What else to know:
- Interesting that this opinion piece was published about the same time as a piece on Space Force’s Project Hecate.
- GPS Interface Control Documents clearly state that U.S. Space Force’s responsibility ends with transmitting good signals from satellites.
- No one is responsible for ensuring signals are properly received and used – so user beware (which is the message of E.O. 13905).
- No one seems responsible for ensuring a U.S. national resilient PNT architecture like exists or is being created in the UK, France, China, Russia, UAE, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, and elsewhere.
- The lack of a responsible entity creates huge risk to national and economic security.
Why GPS III, and what comes after it, still falls short in modern war
What can you do? How can you help?
PNT is the quiet backbone of everything — power, finance, transportation, defense. Too many leaders still don’t see the risk.
But you do.
You understand the systems, the dependencies, the failure chains. That insight is rare — and it’s exactly what your country needs.
So speak up.
Reach out to government leaders, industry decision‑makers, and your fellow citizens.
Show them why resilient PNT isn’t a feature — it’s the necessary foundation.
And when you get a response, tell us. Every conversation strengthens the mission.
