The Modern Challenge of Satellite Navigation and the Path Forward

In July, Iran attempted to close the Strait of Hormuz, showcasing the vulnerability of satellite navigation. The strait, once a critical commercial passage, now struggles as more than 1,100 vessels experienced GPS and AIS interference daily. Ships appeared incorrectly on tracking systems, and crews were forced to navigate without reliable satellite aid.

Iran’s actions highlighted the fragility of the Global Positioning System (GPS), a critical component of modern infrastructure. GPS underpins everything from credit card transactions to power grid synchronization and military operations. The original system, designed in the 1970s, now faces challenges from adversaries capable of jamming signals. In 2024 alone, global aviation reported 430,000 incidents of jamming and spoofing, marking a 62% increase from the prior year.

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Military personnel, like those in the past, once took GPS for granted in combat scenarios. However, current service members no longer have that luxury. The underlying issue with GPS is its reliance on medium Earth orbit satellites that emit weak signals susceptible to jamming. Despite military M-Code enhancements, the fundamental vulnerability remains.

In response, China has developed next-generation navigation solutions, including Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations. These satellites operate closer to Earth, offer stronger signals, and incorporate electronic warfare considerations. The Chinese Communist Party’s progress in this area has prompted Congress to acknowledge the U.S.’s lagging position.

The solution lies in American commercial industry. U.S. companies are developing and deploying LEO navigation satellites with private funding. These systems, offering signals much stronger than traditional GPS, resist spoofing, provide high accuracy, and integrate easily with existing equipment. Often, a simple software update is sufficient to enable resilience against attacks.

Recognizing the shift, the Space Force opted to utilize commercial services over developing a government-owned R-GPS constellation. The House’s fiscal year 2027 defense bill mandates cooperation with commercial LEO providers, emphasizing testing without GPS reliance.

This shift necessitates three actions: First, Congress must fund the commercial LEO demonstration and follow-up services as dictated. Second, the Department of Defense should contract for operational services, ensuring performance-based payments. Third, set resilience standards for vital infrastructure, as many sectors currently rely on outdated technology. Federal regulators should establish these standards to ensure modern GPS deficiencies are addressed.

The U.S.’s original satellite constellation transformed both warfare and the global economy. However, adversaries now target these systems. The future belongs to the nation that develops and deploys resilient navigation capabilities. While American industry leads, the government’s response speed will dictate whether the U.S. maintains its global advantage or concedes to another power.

Will Thibeau is the Director of the American Military Project at The Claremont Institute, founder of Escoreal Solutions, and a veteran of the Army’s 75th Ranger Regiment.