GPS (Global Positioning System): A satellite-based navigation system that provides precise location, velocity, and timing information to military aircraft and weapon systems worldwide. In military aviation, GPS enables accurate navigation, target coordination, precision weapon delivery, and formation flying in all weather conditions and terrain. The system consists of a constellation of satellites operated by the U.S. Space Force that transmit signals to GPS receivers aboard aircraft. Military GPS uses encrypted signals (such as the P(Y)-code) that provide enhanced accuracy and resistance to jamming compared to civilian GPS. GPS has become fundamental to modern military operations, supporting precision-guided munitions, aerial refueling rendezvous, search and rescue operations, and coordinated strike missions. Many military systems now integrate GPS with inertial navigation systems (INSINS (Inertial Navigation System): A self-contained navigation system used in military aircraft that calculates position, velocity, and orientation wit... More) to provide redundant navigation capability in GPS-denied or contested environments.
