The Pentagon wants ultra-precise clocks that could help troops fight without GPS
The Pentagon's research arm, DARPA, is developing ultra-precise compact clocks to provide navigation and timing capabilities independent of GPS. This initiative aims to mitigate the risks of GPS jamming or spoofing during military operations.
Why it matters
GPS vulnerability is a major national security concern; developing resilient, localized timing technology is critical for maintaining military operational readiness in contested environments.
A soldier plots points for land navigation at Schofield Barracks East Range, Hawaii on June 2, 2021. Sgt. Ezra Camarena/US Army GPS depends on precise timing, but its weak satellite signals can be jammed or spoofed. DARPA has tested resilient, ultra-advanced compact clocks that could help troops fight without GPS. DARPA says the technology could enable entirely new military capabilities. The Pentagon's research arm has been experimenting with a new generation of ultra-precise clocks, with the hope of one day integrating the devices into military aircraft, radars, and other systems as a reliable backup for American forces when GPS is jammed or spoofed . To get there, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, is tackling a vulnerability that hinges on a complex, little-known principle: GPS depends entirely on precise timing.
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