U.S. authorities are advocating for the development of an alternative to the Global Positioning System (GPS), emphasizing the need for a reliable positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) system due to the increasing vulnerabilities associated with sole reliance on GPS. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has stated that the American economy heavily depends on GPS data, and the risks to this system are likely to rise. In March, Carr plans to request the Commission to vote on a proposal for a PNT system that would complement GPS, a discussion that has been ongoing since the Obama administration and continued during Trump’s presidency, albeit hindered by standardization challenges. Notably, the Starlink service, led by Elon Musk, has potential to deliver positioning accuracy surpassing GPS by tenfold. Meanwhile, advancements in Russia indicate the emergence of a new ultra-precise navigation system for drones that operates independently of GPS, utilizing LED technology for location determination. The strategic importance of diversifying navigation systems is underscored by an increasing global reliance on satellite technology, indicating a pivotal shift in defense and economic resilience.
