GPS Needs 'Toughening' Alongside Supplement: PNT Adviser
Augmenting or backing up of GPS needs to be balanced with toughening GPS resiliency, said Bradford Parkinson, National Space-Based Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) advisory board first vice chair, at the board's meeting Thursday. He said government response to the…
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growing threat of jamming and spoofing of GPS has been to focus on supplementing the GPS system with a terrestrial service, but there's no current or foreseeable alternative to global navigation satellite service that can deliver the same level of accuracy or global coverage. Possible toughening steps include use of multi-element digital beam forming and null steering antennas and inertial systems. He said the FAA should emphasize use of toughened GNSS receivers, particularly those using directional antennas. He said International Traffic in Arms Regulation antenna restrictions should be removed because they limit U.S. access to important commercial components. He said the advisory board should create a committee on toughening that would help identify burgeoning civil threats to GPS signals, plus mitigation steps and roadblocks to implementation. He said that committee could then make recommendations to the National Security Council.