The idea for GPS originally came from a Navy program designed to provide navigational data to Polaris missile submarines to ensure the accurate delivery of their doomsday payloads. Since then, GPS has enabled a number of enormous changes in military operations and tactics in three ways:
First, GPS is the backbone of the cheapest and most effective precision guided munitions in use today. Not only is the JDAM's $21,000 price tag more less than half the $55,600 we pay for each laser-guided Paveway III, the JDAM is not as easily hindered by weather or the need for a line of sight.
Second, GPS's universally accessible clock enables an unprecedented degree of operational synchronization. Complex tasks like mid-air refueling or coordinating a multi-front are now a lot easier thanks to GPS. Moreover, future maneuver concepts like network-centric warfare would be virtually impossible without it.
Finally, GPS reduces casualties because it makes search and rescue quicker and close air support more accurate.
I'll let Danger Room pal Robot Economist handle the latest nominee in our Top War Tech series:
