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.’
More from Digital Battlespace
-
![Artificial intelligence: the hope, the hype and the real-world reality]()
Artificial intelligence: the hope, the hype and the real-world reality
Artificial intelligence has supported C2 systems and decision-making for more than two decades. It has gradually built up a head of steam in the 2020s, but what is it achieving today and what role could it play in the future?
-
![SOF Week 2026: How SOF Teams Are Powering Radios, Drones and Battlefield Networks (video)]()
SOF Week 2026: How SOF Teams Are Powering Radios, Drones and Battlefield Networks (video)
At SOF Week 2026, Sean O’Neill, Senior Business Development Manager with Iris Technology, discusses the growing importance of tactical power management systems for modern military operations.
-
![SOF Week 2026: How SOF Operators Are Driving the Future of Battlefield Communications (video)]()
SOF Week 2026: How SOF Operators Are Driving the Future of Battlefield Communications (video)
At SOF Week 2026, Austin Farnham, President of Octane Wireless, discusses how direct feedback from special operations forces is helping shape the next generation of battlefield communications technology.
-
![World Defense Show 2026: Northrop Grumman to present improved C2 management system]()
World Defense Show 2026: Northrop Grumman to present improved C2 management system
The Northrop Grumman Integrated Battle Command System is in service with Poland and the US Army with another 20 countries believed to have expressed an interest.
-
![Thales looks to boost DigitalCrew system through AI and human-machine teaming trials]()
Thales looks to boost DigitalCrew system through AI and human-machine teaming trials
The Thales DigitalCrew package, first unveiled at last year’s Defence IQ International Armoured Vehicles conference, is designed to merge imaging and apply a layer of decision-making and observation algorithms to support crew and other personnel.
-
![Babcock nears first customer for Nomad AI translation tool]()
Babcock nears first customer for Nomad AI translation tool
Nomad can provide militaries with real-time intelligence, saving critical time on the battlefield.
