Precise geolocation is becoming an increasingly critical security issue for infantry soldiers. At the same time, it remains an essential tool in the digital age for enhancing tactical efficiency through improved situational awareness of operational theaters.
However, satellite positioning has significant limitations that force the armed forces to explore other solutions and raises concerns about technological sovereignty. This article examines current geolocation methods and technologies, their strengths and weaknesses, and potential solutions to equip the infantrymen of the future.
Geolocation has become critical and fragile information
The return of urban theaters of operation
Since February 2022, the conflict in Ukraine has shown a return to more traditional forms of war, where infantry plays a central role. Urban warfare has once again become a primary theater of operations, demanding advanced technological equipment for electronic warfare. Given the complexity of urban environments and the need for precise tactical coordination, accurate real-time location tracking of infantry on the frontline is vital to minimize casualties and enhance operational effectiveness.
However, the widespread use of GPS jamming by Russia, combined with the inherent inaccuracy of satellite geolocation in dense urban areas, underscores the urgent need to adapt infantry equipment for GPS-denied environments. This technological awakening among European militaries strengthens the push to equip infantry units with alternative positioning technologies.
Rising threats of GPS jamming
Real-world incidents highlight the growing threat of GPS denial. In 2018, during NATO’s Trident Juncture exercise in Norway, civilian GPS signals were repeatedly disrupted, allegedly by Russian interference. These disruptions were viewed by military officials as serious threats.
Similarly, the French army has been preparing for such scenarios, as demonstrated during the Black Crow 24 exercise, where the Air Force deliberately jammed its GNSS signals to train forces for contested environments.
Precise geolocation for better coordination
Since the emergence of GPS in the 1990s, the need for location of soldiers has intensified. New technologies improve the accuracy of weapons and are tactical resources that endanger soldiers whose technical protection is limited.
Due to high costs, slow deployment speeds, and equipment maintainability issues, soldiers appear to be poorly or partially equipped with geolocation systems (GPS and its alternatives). However, this is a matter of combatant safety, as it prevents friendly fire and allows for better management of units in all theaters of operations. This is why equipping soldiers with the latest location technologies has become a necessity.
Assured Positioning Navigation and Timing (APNT)
The current challenge of technological progress is to build assured positioning, navigation, and timing (APNT), i.e., a system or a set of technologies that provides accurate location and protection against interference and jamming. This is especially important given that satellite-based positioning alone cannot consistently guarantee reliable accuracy.
Satellite geolocation technology is no longer sufficient
Firstly, despite regular improvements, GPS accuracy in infantry equipment rarely exceeds 5 meters, which is too large a margin in the case of small-scale, targeted offensive operations. While 20 years ago, GPS revolutionized location tracking with its accuracy, this technology is no longer sufficient today. Sometimes, GPS (or competing) signals are not even available, which is called a GNSS denial situation.
What is GNSS denial?
GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) denial occurs when the waves from geolocation systems such as GPS (American), Galileo (European), Glonass (Russian), and Beidou (Chinese) cannot be received. If there is no alternative, location on the map can no longer be guaranteed. This situation typically occurs indoors, in urban environments, or during intentional jamming and spoofing.
Causes of GNSS denial
This absence of GNSS signals can occur for several reasons.
First, urban environments suffer from poor satellite geolocation quality due to the presence of large metal structures that disrupt the GPS signal. For many critical operations in urban areas or commando attacks targeting a building, GPS location becomes useless. In addition, the GPS signal does not provide any information about the floor or height of the infantryman, which is fundamental information. Indoors, GPS is unavailable because the satellite connection is blocked by walls or ceilings.
Furthermore, as these navigation systems have become more sophisticated, technologies have been developed to disrupt their use. GPS jammers are now standard equipment for most armies around the world, as are technologies for hijacking, stealing, or ruining geolocation data. Thus, while knowing the exact position of one’s troops was supposed to be a tactical advantage, it can become a serious weakness in the event of system malfunction.
The challenge of technological sovereignty
Although the European Galileo system compete with its American counterpart, GPS, the latter is still widely used by military equipment, with the European network often used as a supplement.
While this system enables the use of Blue Force Tracking, designed to coordinate the various NATO allied forces, it also poses a problem of technological sovereignty for a Europe seeking strategic independence. Choosing alternatives to GPS and GNSS signals has therefore become a priority for French armed forces.
How can a resilient solution be found to overcome the limitations of GPS?
The growing interest in inertial sensors
An effective alternative to GNSS signals is to calculate trajectory using inertial sensors. Based on an initial position and direction, the sensors can measure trajectory and therefore location with precision.
While many French military vehicles already use inertial measurement units (IMUs) of varying accuracy, infantry soldiers currently lack this technology. The challenge lies in miniaturizing these systems, which are often too bulky and expensive for personal soldier use.
The increased accuracy of Sysnav’s magneto-inertial technology
To address these challenges of reliability and accuracy in inertial technologies while offering acceptable cost and size, Sysnav has developed a unique magneto-inertial technology, tailored for infantry.
Combining simple MEMS-type motion sensors with magnetometers allows the system to calculate the soldier’s trajectory in three dimensions, both indoors and outdoors.
Thanks to robust data fusion algorithms and speed recalibration methods, Sysnav’s technology correct inertial drift. Sysnav’s solution offers unprecedented reliability at a lower cost, leveraging consumer-grade MEMS sensors enhanced by advanced algorithms.
Conclusion
Despite the performance of satellite positioning solutions, finding alternatives to GPS location for infantry soldiers is a matter of security, tactical coordination, and technological sovereignty for the army.
Sysnav’s innovative technology compensates for the shortcomings of GPS in a world where GNSS denial zones are multiplying (jamming, urban environments, etc.). Magneto-inertial sensors enable precise location tracking by adapting complex technological solutions to infantry soldiers.