> Flexing the ability to jam GPS is pointless, since it's obvious that any state actor who has military satellites in orbit has considered this option or have the capability already.
Forget "state actors", truck drivers have taken out entire airports with GPS jammers:
* https://www.cnet.com/culture/truck-driver-has-gps-jammer-acc...
People like the Resilient Navigation and Timing Foundation have been trying for years to get some kind of GNSS backup accepted:
China has certainly put their money into resiliency (both navigation and timing):
* https://www.gpsworld.com/china-completes-national-eloran-net...
* https://rntfnd.org//2026/03/19/china-has-built-a-triad-of-sa...
* https://rntfnd.org/2023/11/28/china-eloran-used-for-critical...
Some folks are certainly cluing in: South Korea has (e)Loran and the UK and France are joining up with them:
* https://rntfnd.org/2025/04/30/the-uks-system-of-systems-appr...
* https://rntfnd.org/2025/11/12/s-korea-leads-meeting-with-u-k...
The US still has a fairly robust network of VOR's / VOR with DME / VORTAC stations. Good for navigation, but there's no timing component, beyond what's inherent in how they operate.
Admittedly, that'll never be of use outside aviation as its line-of-sight only. But if the sun threw a Carrington event (or worse) at us, I think a lot of western aviation could carry on.
> The US still has a fairly robust network of VOR's / VOR with DME / VORTAC stations. Good for navigation, but there's no timing component, beyond what's inherent in how they operate. Admittedly, that'll never be of use outside aviation […]
I'm aware of the FAA's MON, Minimum Operating Network.
Exactly: that doesn't help boats. Or people in cars. Or farmers:
* https://www.deere.com/en/technology-products/precision-ag-te...
It doesn't help those that use GNSS for precise timing (TCXOes can only 'free run' for a finite amount of time before drift compounds 'too much').
A lot of these were getting dismantled until quite recently, but given recent developments they should obviously be kept
> A lot of these were getting dismantled until quite recently, but given recent developments they should obviously be kept
The FAA has always planned for keeping a non-GNSS-based infrastructure:
* https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/flight_info/aeronav/acf/medi...
* https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2012/08/21/2012-20...
* https://download.aopa.org/epilot/2012/120112VOR-MON-White-Pa...
* https://flighttrainingcentral.com/2017/03/legacy-navigation-...
Celestial Navigation is also doable even in daylight nowadays, e.g. https://sodern.com/en/ranges/astradia
Will that come as an option for my RAV4 or F-150? How about my Cessna?
Will it help keep my NTP/PTP masters sync'd?
It's been doable since the 1940's.
https://patents.google.com/patent/US2981843A/en
Iridium has launched its own alternative positioning and timing system now https://www.iridium.com/iridium-pnt