Nov 6, 2024 - Technology

Four companies plot extra GPS access for U.S. military

Colin Demarest

An Astranis satellite floats above North America. Lights are on along the East Coast. This is an artist's mock up. — A mock-up of a Nexus satellite, floating above the United States. Photo: Courtesy of Astranis

The U.S. military tapped a mix of small and large companies to design an alternate network of GPS satellites it says it needs pronto.

Why it matters: Washington and its friends abroad cannot afford to lose GPS access, which supports battlefield movements and keeps economies afloat.

An outage could cost $1 billion a day, according to one report sponsored by the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

By the numbers: The Space Force selected Astranis, Axient, L3Harris Technologies and Sierra Space to design innovative, more cost-effective "Resilient GPS" satellites.

It's a $2 billion program.
Eight satellites could be ready for launch in 2028. Additional batches should follow.

Threat level: The U.S. advantage in space is waning. Russia and China want to be top dog, and are developing space weapons to knock out satellites.

Electronic jamming and GPS spoofing has greatly complicated the Russia-Ukraine war and life on its edges.

What they're saying: "Space enables the prosperity and security of our nation every day, and it is clear that our competitors have taken note," U.S. Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman said in a statement.

What's next: This project has multiple phases. One or more companies will build prototypes following a design review.

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Four companies plot extra GPS access for U.S. military

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