America at risk from China, lack of GPS alternatives – National Security Space Association

July 19, 2024

Written by Editor

GPS III Satellite USAF

Image: USAF

America at risk from China, lack of GPS alternatives – National Security Space Association

“GPS blackmail” possible, may have already happened. Leadership needed.

ALEXANDRIA, VA, UNITED STATES, July 19, 2024 /EINPresswire.com/ — In a paper released yesterday, the National Security Space Association (NSSA) warns that America is over-dependent on GPS, has no real alternatives, and is far behind China and Russia. Both of those nations have terrestrial backups for space-based navigation and timing signals. Because GPS and other satellite navigation signals are so easily interrupted and imitated, this puts the U.S. at great risk.
This “navigation warfare asymmetry” makes it easy for adversaries to interfere with American weapons systems, as is happening in Ukraine. It also threatens critical infrastructure in the homeland.

The U.S. is so dependent on GPS signals, according to the paper, just the threat of disruption could be enough to affect our policies and actions.

“Merely the threat of disrupting GPS services might be enough to impact U.S. national security and foreign policy.”

— Mark Berkowitz

This may have already happened. Prior to invading Ukraine, Russia destroyed one of its old satellites with a ground-based missile. It then threatened to destroy all of America’s GPS satellites if NATO interfered in the region. There is no way of knowing the impact this has had on the U.S. or NATO response.

The U.S. government has been aware of this problem for at least two decades. Presidents and Congress have mandated a series of remedies, though no action has been taken.

The paper says “Focused leadership, properly empowered and resourced, is essential…” to making the nation safe and regaining American leadership in the field.

The paper “America’s Asymmetric Vulnerability to Navigation Warfare: Leadership and Strategic Direction Needed to Mitigate Significant Threats” was sponsored by the Resilient Navigation and Timing Foundation and can be found here.

Mr. Dana A. Goward
Resilient Navigation and Timing Foundation
+1 571-225-2580
[email protected]
Visit us on social media:
X
LinkedIn
YouTube

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.