A Soldier’s GPSA Soldier’s GPS

Battlefield Benefits and Battlefield Benefits and Applications of the Global Applications of the Global

Positioning SystemPositioning System

Michael Short

Past, Present, and Future

Iraq, 1991Iraq, 1991

PAST

Stormin’ Norman’s Left HookStormin’ Norman’s Left Hook

GPS’ RoleGPS’ Role

• “Hail Mary” play

• 200,000 troops, with 60 days’ worth of equipment

• 100 hours

• Fastest and largest advance in the history of warfare

• Even Rommel would be impressed

PRESENTPRESENT

• Perfect comparison: Afghan & Iraq 2

• Focus on tactical uses

• Increased dependence = vulnerability?

• Widespread availability problems

State of the ArtState of the Art-Bulky, 20-lb boxes in 1991

-Today, PLGR (plugger) is portable, durable

-Precision Lightweight GPS Receiver

-1 per company (180 soldiers) in Desert Storm

-Now, 1 per squadron (9 soldiers)

Can FRS 142 outmaneuver the Army?

Gulf Wars – GPS AdvancementGulf Wars – GPS Advancement

DESERT STORM• Reports via radio,

plots on paper map• 9% precision guided• Time lapse

pinpointing targets• Strategic navigation

IRAQI FREEDOM• GPS radio automatic,

digital screen maps• 70% precision guided• Target coordinates

acquired via GPS• Tactical Navigation

Tactical UsesTactical Uses

• Navigation• Target Designation• Artillery/mortar

guidance• Battlefield

coordination

Achilles’ Heel?Achilles’ Heel?

• Dependence on technology

• What if it can be taken away?– Jamming– Spoofing– Hacking

• Double edged sword– Public availability

Jammers in IraqJammers in Iraq

• “If a country has a Radio Shack, it will have a jammer.”

• Russian jammers– Can block signal acquisition from

124 miles away, clear LOS– But not once the signal has been

acquired

• The bomb still falls.

CounterjammingCounterjamming

• Jammer emits a signal = death• “nulling” antenna arrays• G-STAR redirects the missile’s receiver• Ground troops more crude

The Double Edged SwordThe Double Edged Sword

• Whose GPS is it, anyway?

• A competent opponent could use it against us

• Indeed, could FRS 142 defeat an army?– Turn off selective availability

• But still fairly accurate– Not enough for a cruise missile, but so what?

• Some encoding is possible

Galileo LivesGalileo Lives

• Europe’s bitter– Want their own 30-

satellite constellation

• Problems– Greater availability to

the enemy– Access not restricted

at all

• Top notch accuracy

Benefits and DangersBenefits and Dangers• Top benefit: 95% urban availability

– Currently more like 55%

• Top danger: availability to enemy forces– Even Europe could become the enemy– China might get involved…

• Current solution:– Gripe about it and beg Europe not to do it

My Solution:Satellites with missiles to shoot down the enemy GPS satellites.

FUTUREFUTURE

• Complete battlefield digitization– Force XXI Battle Command, Battle and Below

(FBCB2)

• Soldier as a complete unit– Land Warrior

FBCB2FBCB2

• Touch screen battle control

• Total battlefield awareness

• Elimination of friendly fire

Digitized DivisionsDigitized Divisions

• 2001 Exercises at Fort Irwin– Red Team falls to digital Blue Team

• IV Infantry Division– Almost saw fighting in Iraqi Freedom

Land WarriorLand Warrior

• Completely integrated soldiers

• Urban combat advantages

• Most deadly soldiers in history

• Fewer troops needed, fewer troops lost

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