New LEO PNT Act Mandates Commercial Backup for GPS, Demanding Sub-30cm Accuracy

The new Resilient LEO PNT Act is basically the government’s plan to get a high-tech insurance policy for GPS. This bill requires the Secretary of the Air Force to launch a demonstration program, using commercial companies, to build a backup system for Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) using Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites. The core idea is to create a system that can take over if the Global Positioning System (GPS) fails, gets jammed, or is tricked (spoofed). The Secretary must award a contract to at least one commercial provider quickly, and that company has just 18 months to prove their system works.

Why We Need a GPS Backup Plan

GPS is everywhere—it runs everything from your car’s navigation to the timing systems that synchronize the stock market and power grids. If it goes down, the economy grinds to a halt. This bill aims to fix that vulnerability by mandating a commercial LEO system that is significantly more resilient. Crucially, the system must be compatible with existing civilian GPS receivers (L1 or L5 signals). That means the hardware in your phone, your tractor, or your shipping container shouldn't need a costly overhaul to use the new service.

The Performance Benchmarks Are Seriously High

This isn't just about finding a backup; it’s about finding a better one. The bill sets some aggressive performance targets for the commercial systems being tested. For position accuracy, it demands better than 30 centimeters—that’s less than a foot of error, which is crucial for things like self-driving vehicles or precision agriculture. For timing, it requires accuracy better than 10 nanoseconds (a nanosecond is one billionth of a second), which is essential for banking and telecommunications. Furthermore, the system must be much harder to jam or spoof than current GPS. If a demonstration is successful, the Secretary has 180 days to move toward awarding a full operational contract, ensuring this technology moves from the lab to the real world fast.

The Commercial Catch and Taxpayer Investment

To be considered, companies must not only meet these technical requirements but also show they have a solid commercial business plan, readiness of their satellites and ground networks, and the ability to quickly manufacture more satellites. This focus on commercial providers is intended to leverage private sector speed and innovation. However, this is a government contract program, meaning taxpayers are funding the development and testing of this critical infrastructure. While the bill promises a more resilient future for everyone who relies on accurate location data—which is basically everyone—it’s an investment that comes with a price tag. Companies that can't meet the high technical and business readiness thresholds set by the Secretary will be left out of this potentially lucrative path to a federal contract. It’s a high-stakes game where the biggest winners will be the successful commercial space companies and, ultimately, the national infrastructure that gets a reliable, high-accuracy backup for GPS.