Glitch shows how much military relies on GPS

[unhappycamper]

A salesman shows some of the most popular GPS units available at a store in Denver last month. GPS started as a military system in the 1970s but has exploded into a huge commerical market. A recent software glitch that affected military GPS units did not effect the consumer market.


Glitch shows how much military relies on GPS
By Dan Elliott - The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Jun 1, 2010 18:32:01 EDT

DENVER — A problem that rendered as many as 10,000 U.S. military GPS receivers useless for days is a warning to safeguard a system that enemies would love to disrupt, a defense expert says.

The Air Force has not said how many weapons, planes or other systems were affected or whether any were in use in Iraq or Afghanistan. But the problem, blamed on incompatible software, highlights the military's reliance on the Global Positioning System and the need to protect technology that has become essential for protecting troops, tracking vehicles and targeting weapons.

"Everything that moves uses it," said John Pike, director of Globalsecurity.org, which tracks military and homeland security news. "It is so central to the American style of war that you just couldn't leave home without it."

The problem occurred when new software was installed in ground control systems for GPS satellites on Jan. 11, the Air Force said.

Officials said between 8,000 at 10,000 receivers could have been affected, out of more than 800,000 in use across the military.

[The Straight Story]

1. They need to give everyone in the military a compass

;)

[Javaman]

4. I recently picked up a WWI brass US Army officers compass

Still works like a charm, even after the software upgrade...brass polish. ;) lol

[tinymontgomery]

2. As a Quartermaster (navigator) in the Navy

I used to love celestial navigation using a sextant. No when I ask QM if they shot stars they just stair at me like I'm from the dark ages. No one can interfere with the stars.

[era veteran]

3. One of the hardest things to do in mounted combat operations in strange

country is keeping up on the map where you are. It is a skill that must be practiced to be proficient. It dose not get practiced anymore. It would be a great system for an enemy to disrupt.