Global Positioning System (GPS) technology has seen increased use in many different military applications, worldwide. The Warfighter uses GPS to enhance situational awareness on the battle field with systems such as Land Warrior, Blue Force Tracker, FalconView, and various electronic mission planning tools loaded on Toughbook or GoBook laptop computers. Tactical radio systems no longer simply transmit voice information over terrestrial networks, Warfighter positional information, text messages, and other data is transmitted via tactical networks.
GPS capability has established itself in worldwide military applications as a must-have technology. Situational awareness offered by GPS enabled devices improves Warfighter and system survivability. Often times, however, such as in the case of a Soldier or Marine operating inside a military ground vehicle, GPS signals may not be directly available. During an assault on an enemy compound, the Warfighter may step out of the vehicle disoriented and vulnerable due to a lack of GPS signal availability inside the vehicle; he must wait for his GPS receiver to acquire a GPS signal. GPS retransmission provides a solution to this gap to provide the Warfighter with a live GPS signal to any commercial or military grade receiver. Ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as other more clandestine locations throughout the world, has taught us a valuable lesson in the importance of live GPS signals inside military ground vehicles. Whether it be simply a coordinate for the vehicle commander to check and report position off his DAGR, or a dismounted Soldier stepping out of his MRAP to track down a rogue warlord, having a live wireless GPS signal inside the vehicle adds signifincant value and improves survivability for the Warfighter.
GPS retransmission, the art of making the live GPS signal available to handheld or mobile GPS applications at locations where the signal is not otherwise available, is a key technology to enable the Warfighter today. In order to repeat a live GPS signal, a GPS retransmission system must be installed to the parent vehicle. This system can be installed in a permanent manner or installed as a mission kit offering flexibility to a wide range of applications. A typical GPS retransmission system will consist of an active antenna, RF cabling, amplifier, and repeat antenna(s). Depending on the size and configuration of the host vehicle, a system may contain one or two repeat antennas, providing up to 100% signal coverage of the vehicle's crew compartment.
A GPS retransmission system offers three main benefits to the Warfighter operating inside the military ground vehicle. First, the operator's GPS receiver will obtain wireless GPS lock while the vehicle is in a protected state with all hatches, doors, and windows closed to provide maximum protection from outside threats. This enables a vehicle commander or squad leader to receive position, route, and time in real-time to better prepare for mission contingencies. The days of opening the door of an MRAP in an enemy controlled area to hold a DAGR outside with a clear view of the sky to achieve a GPS signal are over.
Second, Time-to-First-Fix (TTFF) is eliminated, meaning the operator experiences a seamless transition while exiting the vehicle, never losing GPS lock. In the case of quick casualty, the need for close air support, or assault missions on a compound at night, an immediate GPS signal is advantageous to improve situational awareness. This especially becomes important, when coupled with the benefit of a live GPS signal inside the vehicle for a system such as Land Warrior or NettWarrior, in which a Soldier has an active GPS antenna on his uniform, providing constant position and status updates to the network. GPS retransmission improves speed and accuracy of the assault team leaving the vehicle, it reduces time from dismount to breach on the target location, thereby improving survivability.
Finally, a live wireless GPS signal inside the host vehicle enables optimization and weight reduction of the RF signal distribution system within the vehicle. Many subsystems residing in ground vehicles today benefit from a GPS signal, whether it be for position or time. A large percentage of these systems are equipped with an active GPS antenna, enabling a drastic reduction in RF cabling, leading to optimized and more reliable vehicle architecture. Removal of RF cables to the DAGR, for example, eliminates a failure mode in which the Soldier's weapon sweep impacts the cable, damaging the connector or cable a high percentage of the time.
Missions utilizing GPS retransmission systems have been carried out by the US Army's 75th Ranger Regiment, 7th Special Forces Group, Combat Applications Group, and Stryker Brigade Combat Teams (SBCT), among others. GPS retransmission has successfully provided an improved level of situational awareness to the Warfighter, providing increased rates of survivability and mission effectiveness.
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