Australian Defence Force to upgrade GPS capabilities
The Australian government has approved a project to upgrade and enhance the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF’s) Global Positioning System (GPS) capabilities. Minister for Defence David Johnston announced the $30 million project on 26 August.
Accurate positioning, navigation, coordination and targeting data provided by GPS is critical to the ADF’s ability to use modern equipment and operate effectively.
As GPS jamming become easier to produce and deploy, the ADF will continue to meet this evolving threat under JP 5408 Phase 3 (Platforms) Tranche 2. The project aims to enhance GPS on a range of ADF platforms by providing either protection or redundancy capabilities in response to GPS denial activities.
The project will see platforms including Collins Class submarines, hydrographic survey ships, survey motor launches, special forces’ rigid hull inflatable boats, and mine hunter coastal ships upgraded. Alignment kits for ground based air defence systems will also be sourced.
Johnston said: ‘The government recognises that to ensure the ADF remains viable and robust we need to invest in force protection, countermeasures, protective security, system redundancy, lower signatures and stealth for our capabilities and systems.
‘This project will strengthen the ADF’s ability to operate in a GPS denied environment and will increase the operational capability and safety of Australian service personnel.’
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