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A Soldier’s GPS

A Soldier’s GPS. Battlefield Benefits and Applications of the Global Positioning System. Past, Present, and Future. Michael Short. Iraq, 1991. PAST. Stormin’ Norman’s Left Hook. GPS’ Role. “Hail Mary” play 200,000 troops, with 60 days’ worth of equipment 100 hours

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A Soldier’s GPS

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  1. A Soldier’s GPS Battlefield Benefits and Applications of the Global Positioning System Past, Present, and Future Michael Short

  2. Iraq, 1991 PAST

  3. Stormin’ Norman’s Left Hook

  4. GPS’ 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

  5. PRESENT • Perfect comparison: Afghan & Iraq 2 • Focus on tactical uses • Increased dependence = vulnerability? • Widespread availability problems

  6. State 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?

  7. 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 Gulf Wars – GPS Advancement

  8. Tactical Uses • Navigation • Target Designation • Artillery/mortar guidance • Battlefield coordination

  9. Achilles’ Heel? • Dependence on technology • What if it can be taken away? • Jamming • Spoofing • Hacking • Double edged sword • Public availability

  10. Jammers 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.

  11. Counterjamming • Jammer emits a signal = death • “nulling” antenna arrays • G-STAR redirects the missile’s receiver • Ground troops more crude

  12. The 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

  13. Galileo Lives • Europe’s bitter • Want their own 30-satellite constellation • Problems • Greater availability to the enemy • Access not restricted at all • Top notch accuracy

  14. Benefits 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.

  15. FUTURE • Complete battlefield digitization • Force XXI Battle Command, Battle and Below (FBCB2) • Soldier as a complete unit • Land Warrior

  16. FBCB2 • Touch screen battle control • Total battlefield awareness • Elimination of friendly fire

  17. Digitized Divisions • 2001 Exercises at Fort Irwin • Red Team falls to digital Blue Team • IV Infantry Division • Almost saw fighting in Iraqi Freedom

  18. Land Warrior • Completely integrated soldiers • Urban combat advantages • Most deadly soldiers in history • Fewer troops needed, fewer troops lost

  19. XBOX: Coming to a Battlefield Near You

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