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
XBOX: Coming to a Battlefield Near XBOX: Coming to a Battlefield Near YouYou