Page 10 - Desert Lightning News 7-17-15

10
GPS: Twenty years of positioning, navigation, timing
Airman 1st Class Rachel Loftis
99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE,
Nev. -- In the past, leaving the house
without an atlas or map full of coor-
dinates and colorful directions some-
times led to the driver leading their pas-
sengers through an abyss of twists and
turns during a simple trip across town.
However, those days came to an
end with the explosion of the Global
Positioning System 20 years ago.
Today, GPS technology is highly
relied on in most areas of mod-
ern functionality. According to the
Global Navigation Satellite Systems
Agency, there are four billion GPS-
enabled devices worldwide.
It is often forgotten or unknown
that GPS began as a military tech-
nology, and is still integral to mili-
tary operations today.
“The advances in GPS over time have
resulted in more compact systems that
can be incorporated into fighter aircraft,”
said Lt. Col. Jon Berardinelli, U.S. Air
CATALINA
PET HOSPITAL
“Our Pets Love Our Vets!”
'3&&/FX$MJFOU&YBN
(Not valid on previous purchases. Cannot be combined
with other offers or discounts. Please, one offer per household)
&'PSU-PXFMM3Et5VDTPO
"; 10% off with Military ID
tXXXDBUBMJOBQFUIPTQJUBMOFU
SUNDAY SERVICES
Traditional Service – 8:15 am
Sunday School – 9:30 am
Contemporary Service – 10:45 am
State Farm®.
(520) 795-1932
5360 E. Pima St. Tucson, AZ
www.streamsinthedesert.us
0YRGL7TIGMEPW
1SR 'LMGOIR8EGS7EPEH 8LYVW 'LMGOIR
&IER&YVVMXS
7TEKLIXXM[1IEX7EYGI [6MGI&IERW
7EPWE
8YIW
+EVPMG&VIEH *VM 0EWEKRE[+EVPMG
;IH 7XIEO&YVVMXS[6MGI &VIEH
&IERW
7EPWE
&VIEOJEWX7TIGMEP
1*SRP]RSXZEPMHSRLSPMHE]W
Joe’s4ERGEOI,SYWI
*%1-0=6)78%96%28
7/SPF6Hˆˆ3TIR1SR7EXEQTQ7YREQTQ
July 17, 2015 Desert Lightning News
www.aerotechnews.com/davis-monthanafb
Facebook.com/DesertLightningNews
Force Weapons School deputy com- has made a gigantic impact on air- corners and edges of the air space we
mandant. “Additionally, newer systems
incorporate features that make them to-ground employment in the USAF previously wouldn’t even dare get close
more resistant to jamming in combat
operations. You can use it in a contested because of its contribution to guiding to because now we have a very accu-
environment where the enemy is at-
tempting to deny the GPS signal.” munitions. Prior to GPS, the pilot had rate representation of where we are.”
GPS military capabilities were first to guide precision weapons into the Air Force Space Command plans
put to the test in 1990 and 1991 during
Operations Desert Shield and Desert target with an optical device or laser to continue to enhance the GPS
Storm, and were relied on heavily by
allied troops to navigate the featureless designation. With GPS the pilot has technology over time. In 2017, they
deserts in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq.
the option of inputting coordinates will be launching GPS III satellites,
Col. Jeffrey Weed, 414th Combat
Training Squadron commander, said and allowing the munition, with the which will provide global position-
pilots didn’t always use GPS technology.
help of satellites, to guide itself. ing services for military and civilian
“What did pilots do before GPS?
Every airplane had an INS, an iner- “The weapons we drop are hitting use, and is expected to provide three
tial navigational system,” said Weed.
“Let’s just say it’s a self-contained sys- targets more accurately, which means times the accuracy and improve
tem on an airplane that does a pretty
good job of telling you where you are the Nevada Test and Training Range coverage for hard to reach areas.
and you would also use radio naviga-
tional aids that also told you where has to spend more money on replacing “In the early days of GPS, there
you were in relation to the ground.”
targets that get destroyed because the weren’t as many satellites as there are
According to Berardinelli, GPS
weapons are very accurate,” said Weed. today,” said Weed. “You actually had to
“In the old days of Nellis Air Force pay some attention to times of which
Base, the airspace was defined by easi- the satellites would be accurate and
ly-identifiable things on the ground so times of which they wouldn’t be. That
you could stay within the airspace. has now become something you don’t
“It’s not that pilots don’t have to rely have to think about very often because
on the ground references anymore, our great Air Force has put satellites in
but we have a series of airspace lines orbit that have made it accurate most
within the aircraft that’ll allow us to of the time, in most of the world. I
hopefully stay in the airspace a lot bet- think that will continue to improve as
ter than before. So, it allows us to use with any military technology.”
www.brooklynpizzacompany.com Rolling Hills Pet Clinic We treat your
534 N. 4th Ave 7010 E. Golf Links pets like btehtatner
(520) 622-6868 Tucson, Arizona 85730 family
(520) 790-4871
NEW EXTENDED HOURS
Monday-Thursday: 8–8
Friday: 8–5:30 •Saturday: 8–3
rollinghillspetclinic.com
MILITARY DISCOUNT!
While he works to Ride with the We make you feel like
protect our country, #1 car insurer part of OUR Family
in Arizona.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® Join the many military active duty, dependents,
With competitive rates and and retirees that we are currently serving!
works to save his son from a deadly disease. personal service, it’s no
wonder more drivers trust Adult and Children Dentisty – Cleanings and Periodontal Treatment
One-Visit Crowns and Fillings – Root Canal Treatment and Extractions
Like a good neighbor,
St. Jude patient, Aaron, with his father State Farm is there®. Invisalign – Cosmetic Make-Over – Implant Services
Lieutenant Commander, Scott
CALL FOR A QUOTE 24/7. Proud provider of
A CFC Participant – provided as a public service.
Dave Noel, Agent
17)%82799(2 3 7231 E Golf Links, E. of Kolb/99¢ ctr.
7XFVRQ$=‡&ORVHWR'0
'DYH1RHOE]GW#6WDWH)DUPFRP
ZZZ'DYH1RHOXV
Find us on Facebook
3K
6WDWH)DUP0XWXDO$XWRPRELOH
Insurance Company Dr. Su-Wen Chang
7IVZMRK Close to DMAFB in the INDEPENDENCE PLAZA USC Graduate
8YGWSR State Farm Indemnity Company
=IEVW Bloomington, IL 350 S. Williams Blvd., Suite 240 BROADWAY
D
rESDIBOHEFOUJTUSZDPN
N
Convenient parking
SWAN
ROSEMONT
LIAMS BLV
CRAYCROFT
WIL