US Army Awards $11M Contract to GPS Alternative Startup Tern
Original: US Army places $11M bet on Austin-based GPS alternative Tern
Why This Matters
Growing GPS vulnerability in conflict zones is driving demand for resilient, jam-proof navigation alternatives in defense applications.
Austin-based startup Tern has secured an $11.26 million U.S. Army contract to deploy its GPS-free navigation technology in military vehicles. The system uses onboard vehicle diagnostics data and edge processing to provide positioning without relying on GPS signals, which are increasingly vulnerable to jamming in conflict zones.
Austin-based Tern has won an $11.26 million contract from the U.S. Army to deploy its GPS-alternative navigation technology in military vehicles. The startup's system, which CEO Shaun Moore describes as 'Google Maps for the battlefield,' plugs into a vehicle's OBD diagnostics port, connects to a tablet interface, and uses proprietary methods to derive latitude/longitude positioning without any GPS signal. The tech relies entirely on edge processing, making it functional in GPS-denied environments such as tunnels, deserts, and areas affected by electronic warfare. The Army contract comes amid growing concern over GPS disruptions — particularly in Ukraine, Russia, and the Middle East — and reports that U.S. military GPS jamming may have contributed to a fatal medevac aircraft crash earlier in 2026. Because Tern's system is a closed, self-contained loop, it is significantly harder for adversaries to jam or spoof compared to satellite-dependent GPS. Co-founder Brett Harrison recently validated the tech during a 1,300-mile drive from Austin to Laguna Beach, during which traditional GPS dropped out dozens of times while Tern's system maintained continuous positioning throughout the entire trip. Moore and Harrison, both military veterans, said the Army contract validates years of development work.