By Titik Puspa 
Austin, Texas – In a significant development for national security and technological innovation, Austin-based startup Tern has been awarded a substantial $11.26 million contract by the U.S. Army to implement its groundbreaking, low-cost alternative to Global Positioning System (GPS) technology. This strategic partnership underscores the growing urgency within military circles to establish robust, resilient navigation systems in an era marked by increasing GPS vulnerabilities. While the exact scale of the deployment remains confidential, Tern’s technology, which co-founder and CEO Shaun Moore has aptly described as "Google Maps for the battlefield," promises to redefine situational awareness and operational effectiveness for Army vehicles.
The timing of this contract is particularly prescient, arriving amidst a global surge in GPS disruptions. These interferences, ranging from sophisticated spoofing attacks to outright jamming, have become acutely problematic in regions like the Middle East and the airspace above Ukraine and Russia. The implications for military operations, which rely heavily on precise GPS for navigation, targeting, and communication, are profound. The U.S. military itself has been reportedly exploring and even experimenting with GPS jamming techniques, a double-edged sword that, while potentially useful for disrupting enemy systems, has also been implicated in tragic accidents. Earlier this year, a medevac plane crash in New Mexico was preliminarily linked to such military-induced GPS interference, highlighting the critical need for reliable, independent navigation solutions. This initiative by the Army also aligns with ongoing efforts in Congress and has been a focus for former President Trump during his first term, all aimed at fostering the development of navigation technologies that are resilient and not solely dependent on GPS.
Tern’s innovative approach sidesteps the reliance on external satellite signals by leveraging the wealth of data already generated by modern vehicles. The company’s entire technology stack is meticulously engineered to harness this internal vehicle data, transforming it into actionable navigation information without the need for GPS. This is achieved through a compact, integrated system. "We’ve got a device that plugs into the diagnostics board of the vehicle, wired to a tablet, and then that tablet is the interface for the soldier to use, and we provide both the position and navigation and routing there for the soldier," explained Shaun Moore in a candid interview. This elegantly simple yet technologically advanced setup allows for seamless integration into existing vehicle platforms.
The core of Tern’s innovation lies in its ability to "passively listen" to the diagnostic data streams within a vehicle. This means the technology does not interfere with or alter the flow of critical vehicle information, a crucial factor for operational integrity. Using proprietary algorithms and advanced signal processing, Tern then meticulously interprets this data to derive precise positioning and navigation outputs. Moore elaborated on the significant engineering effort involved: "There is quite a bit of work that was done to get it to the point where we can just receive that information and then output latitude / longitude, so big effort by our team." This sophisticated data fusion and interpretation is what enables the system to function as a standalone navigation solution.
The result is a system that allows a vehicle to determine its own position with remarkable accuracy, irrespective of external signals. This capability is powered by edge processing, meaning the computational heavy lifting is done directly within the vehicle’s hardware, offering significant advantages in terms of speed, security, and reliability. This is particularly beneficial in challenging operational environments, whether navigating off-road terrains, traversing dense urban landscapes, operating within underground tunnels, or crossing vast, featureless deserts where GPS signals can be weak or entirely absent. The robustness of Tern’s technology was recently demonstrated by co-founder Brett Harrison himself, who successfully navigated a demanding 1,300-mile journey between Austin and Laguna Beach, California. During this extensive trip, Harrison reported that Tern’s system maintained a constant and accurate lock on his vehicle’s position, a stark contrast to traditional GPS, which reportedly faltered dozens of times throughout the same route.
Beyond its navigational accuracy, another critical attribute of Tern’s technology, and perhaps one of its most compelling selling points for military applications, is its inherent security. The system operates as a closed loop, meaning it is not reliant on external, potentially compromised networks. This characteristic makes it significantly more resistant to adversarial interference compared to GPS, which is an open system susceptible to spoofing and jamming. Moore highlighted the public’s often-unexamined reliance on GPS: "I don’t know that there is broad awareness on the fragility of the [GPS] system from a consumer standpoint," he observed. "I think people just see the blue dot on their phone and say it will always be there because it’s there now, right? Why wouldn’t it be there?" This nonchalant attitude towards GPS reliability starkly contrasts with the critical need for unwavering navigation in military operations.
For Brett Harrison, a military veteran himself, the U.S. Army contract represents a profound validation of years of dedicated development and persistent effort. His personal experience serving in Afghanistan with a special operations task force was a powerful catalyst for developing a reliable navigation solution. "From the very foundation of when we decided to embark upon this effort, we recognized it has to be actually deployable, actually scalable, and not a science project," Harrison emphasized. "We weren’t interested in just seeing what we could prove. We wanted to make sure it actually was something that could get into the wild and serve a purpose." This commitment to practical, field-ready technology has clearly resonated with the Army’s stringent requirements.
The implications of Tern’s technology extend far beyond the immediate needs of the U.S. Army. The principles behind its navigation system—leveraging in-vehicle data and edge processing—could have transformative effects on a wide range of industries. Autonomous vehicles, for instance, could benefit immensely from a navigation system that is not dependent on external satellite signals, enhancing their safety and operational range. Logistics and supply chain management could also see improvements in efficiency and reliability, particularly in remote or challenging environments. Furthermore, in disaster response scenarios or during widespread communication outages, a robust, self-contained navigation system could prove invaluable for first responders and critical infrastructure operations.
The development of GPS-independent navigation systems has been a long-standing goal for military strategists, recognizing the systemic risk posed by a single point of failure. The increasing sophistication of electronic warfare capabilities globally has only amplified these concerns. Nations and non-state actors alike are developing and deploying technologies capable of disrupting GPS signals, creating navigational "black holes" that could cripple military operations. Tern’s solution offers a tangible path towards mitigating these risks, providing a secure and reliable alternative that can function even when GPS is unavailable or compromised.
The contract with the U.S. Army is not just a financial windfall for Tern; it is a powerful endorsement of its technological vision and its potential to address critical national security challenges. It signifies a shift in how the military approaches navigation, moving towards more integrated, intelligent, and resilient systems. The company’s focus on low-cost deployment is also a key factor, enabling widespread adoption across a large fleet of vehicles without prohibitive expense. This democratizes access to advanced navigation capabilities, ensuring that even smaller units or less technologically advanced platforms can benefit from enhanced situational awareness.
The journey from a startup concept to a fielded military solution is fraught with challenges, including rigorous testing, stringent security clearances, and the need to demonstrate scalability and reliability under extreme conditions. Tern’s success in navigating these hurdles and securing this significant contract speaks volumes about the maturity and effectiveness of its technology. The company’s co-founders, with their blend of technical expertise and military experience, appear uniquely positioned to understand and meet the demands of their end-users.
As the U.S. Army begins to integrate Tern’s technology, the world will be watching closely. This contract is more than just a business deal; it is a testament to the power of innovation in addressing complex security imperatives. It highlights the vital role that agile, forward-thinking startups can play in shaping the future of military technology, offering solutions that are not only effective but also adaptable to the ever-evolving landscape of global threats. Tern’s "Google Maps for the battlefield" is poised to become an indispensable tool, ensuring that U.S. forces can navigate with confidence, no matter the circumstances. The ongoing research and development in this sector, spurred by such advancements, will likely lead to further breakthroughs, solidifying the importance of resilient navigation for all critical operations in the decades to come. The company’s ability to leverage existing vehicle data, a ubiquitous and often underutilized resource, represents a paradigm shift in how navigation is conceived and implemented, moving from an external dependency to an intrinsic capability. This strategic advantage is crucial for maintaining operational superiority in an increasingly contested environment.
