Attack on GPS the Next 9-11? – Video Report KPIX News, San Francisco

September 14, 2021

Written by Editor

Image: KPIX

This four minute piece from the CBS affiliate in San Francisco poses an interesting question. 

There are certainly plenty of individuals, groups, and governments out there who might like to bring the U.S. to its knees.

For example, in 1996 China suffered what their military calls “The Unforgettable Humiliation” when they lost two of their missiles in flight because, they say, the U.S. interfered with GPS signals.

China then labored for 24 years to build Bei Dou and make themselves independent of U.S. satnav. They also made themselves independent of space for PNT with services from eLoran, a combination of fiber and 5G, and other systems. 

So now that they don’t need GPS or space for PNT, maybe it’s time for some payback for the humiliation with an attack on GPS. It might be seen by many in China as fitting. And maybe it could be done in a way that can’t be traced back to them.

Or maybe China holds GPS hostage and trades it for something they want, like Taiwan, or the South China Sea.

With America so vulnerable, the future holds a wealth of possibilities for our adversaries.

Our thanks to Molly McCrea at KPIX. She has reported on GPS vulnerability before and also produced this story.

 

KPIX Original Report: Next 911 Could Be A Cyberattack On Vulnerable GPS Systems

As the nation marks the 20th anniversary of the 911 terror attack on U.S. soil, Juliette Goodrich tells of another growing security threat leaving us vulnerable to catastrophe.

What Can YOU Do? How Can YOU Help?

PNT is the quiet backbone of everything but 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 right now. Contact your government leaders and industry decision-makers and tell them resilient PNT isn’t a feature — it’s the foundation everything else depends on.

Start the Conversation

Use our Resilient PNT Key Talking Points to make the case.

U.S. Advocates

Find your representatives at Congress.gov, then use our email template to reach them in minutes.

When you get a response, let us know. Every conversation strengthens the mission.

More PNT News

Russia is jamming GPS from space – SpaceNews

Russia is jamming GPS from space – SpaceNews

Image: Copilot AI What's new: Another report about Todd Humphreys' efforts, though this one has a bit more of the backstory about how this was discovered. Why it's important: We hope this helps raise awareness about threats and risks. What else to know: Regrettably,...

Inside GNSS, Inside LEO: LEO PNT – Why Now?

Inside GNSS, Inside LEO: LEO PNT – Why Now?

Image: Shutterstock What's new: A new recurring feature at Inside GNSS. Why it's important: LEO PNT has enormous potential to provide similar services as MEO PNT but with greater performance and greater resilience. What else to know: Xona, Trustpoint, (both RNT...

Why the FCC Must Reject Ligado’s Latest Plan – Broadband Breakfast

Why the FCC Must Reject Ligado’s Latest Plan – Broadband Breakfast

Image: RNT Foundation What's new: It has been six years since the FCC ruled in favor of Ligado. Now Ligado wants to change almost everything about the bargain it struck with the commission. Why it's important: Use of some of the frequencies Ligado was granted could...

New Company for Broadcast Positioning System – NAB

New Company for Broadcast Positioning System – NAB

Image: Shutterstock What's new: The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has formed a separate company to develop, advocate for, and deploy the Broadcast Positioning System (BPS). Why it's important: NAB has put increasing effort behind BPS since its inception...

Get PNT News in Your Inbox