S. 2277: GPS Resiliency Report Act

This bill, known as the GPS Resiliency Report Act, aims to enhance the understanding of risks associated with the Global Positioning System (GPS) and related navigation and timing services. The Secretary of Defense is required to prepare and submit a report to Congress within one year of the bill's enactment. This report will analyze potential vulnerabilities and threats to GPS, especially in scenarios involving military conflict or attacks on U.S. allies.

Key Elements of the Report

The report must cover several specific areas:

• Risks of Inaccessibility: It will describe the risks faced by the United States and its allies if access to GPS and related services is disrupted, particularly during military conflicts.
• Threats from Other Nations: An assessment of risks posed by competitor countries such as China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, focusing on their capabilities to disrupt U.S. access to GPS services during conflicts.
• Current DOD Efforts: A review of the Department of Defense’s ongoing projects to develop new technologies or systems aimed at providing backup GPS capabilities. This includes both space-based and ground-based technologies, as well as advancements in quantum sensing technologies.
• Resilient GPS Program: An evaluation of the Space Force's Resilient Global Positioning System (R-GPS) program, including its timeline for achieving full operational capacity to support existing U.S. satellites.
• Terrestrial Backup Framework: A plan for establishing a comprehensive terrestrial-based GPS backup system, with a goal of making it functional within 15 years of the bill’s enactment.

Form and Content of the Report

The report submitted to Congress will be primarily unclassified, although it may contain a classified annex to address sensitive information.

Definitions

The bill includes definitions related to:

• Appropriate Committees of Congress: These are designated committees in both the Senate and the House of Representatives that will receive the report.
• U.S. Ally: A United States ally is defined as a NATO member, a major non-NATO ally, or Taiwan.

Timeline

The Secretary of Defense has one year from the date of the bill’s enactment to complete and submit the report to Congress.

Relevant Companies

• BA - Boeing: As a major player in aerospace and defense, Boeing may be directly affected due to its involvement in GPS technology and military contracts.
• LMT - Lockheed Martin: This defense contractor has interests in satellite systems, including GPS and may be involved in upcoming projects resulting from the bill's focus.
• RTN - Raytheon Technologies: As a significant defense contractor, Raytheon manufactures technology related to navigation systems and could be impacted by any changes in defense spending related to GPS resiliency.