Resilient LEO PNT Act

GPS backup demo with low Earth satellites

If enacted, the Air Force Secretary would run a prototype to test a GPS backup using commercial low Earth orbit satellites. The effort would use U.S.-based providers and would depend on Congress providing funds. The Secretary would list eligible providers and seek to award at least one contract as soon as practicable, with the demo due within 18 months of award. The demo must work without GPS, work with civilian GPS L1 or L5 receivers without hardware changes, resist jamming and spoofing, and restore service faster after satellite loss. It must hit timing under 10 nanoseconds (measured against official U.S. time, UTC(USNO)) and position under 30 centimeters for both stationary and moving users. Providers would be judged on business case, readiness of space and ground networks and user gear, ability to build satellites quickly, and FCC approvals. If the demo succeeds, the Secretary would try to award a follow-on production contract or transaction within 180 days to move toward operations.