Vulnerabilities of the Global Positioning System and the Impact on the Iron Triad: The AWACS, JSTARS, and Rivet Joint Fleets
Abstract
Although there are credible threats to the United States Global Positioning System (GPS), sustainment of the constellation remains the greatest challenge. As GPS satellites reach the end of their operational life cycle, there is a risk the United States Air Force (USAF) cannot build and launch replacements quickly enough to maintain a fully-operational, 24-satellite constellation. Yet GPS is critical to infrastructure throughout the world, in particular aviation. To safely accommodate more aircraft in optimized airspace, international organizations responsible for air safety have established new navigation performance requirements. Programs to modernize military aircraft to meet these requirements rely heavily on GPS, much as civil aircraft do. This thesis analyzes the risk of overreliance on GPS by the core of the USAF command and control, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft: AWACS, JSTARS, and Rivet Joint. The sensors on board these military aircraft require precision position information to effectively perform their missions. However, these aircraft may operate in a GPS denial environment. Backup navigation sources must be available for crews to carry out their missions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 11, 2010
- Accession Number
- ADA524209
Entities
People
- Mark J. Walske
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College