This bill tells the Air Force to test a new, stronger navigation and timing service using commercial satellites in low Earth orbit. The goal is to keep position and time services working even if GPS is down. The test system must work with existing civilian GPS L1 or L5 user equipment without changing the hardware, be tougher against jamming and spoofing, deliver very high accuracy (under 10 nanoseconds for time and under 30 centimeters for position), and be able to quickly restore service if some satellites fail .

The Air Force will choose at least one company and require a working demo within 18 months of the contract award. Companies will be judged on things like a real business plan, how ready their space and ground systems and user gear are, how fast they can build satellites, and needed FCC approvals. If the demo succeeds, the Air Force should, within 180 days, move toward a follow-on deal to begin operational deployment. A briefing and report are due within two years, covering who was considered, what was shown, the results, and a plan and timeline to scale up.

• Who is affected: The Air Force, commercial satellite service providers, and stationary and mobile users of positioning and timing services.
• What changes: A test program for a GPS-resilient service that works with current GPS user equipment and aims for higher accuracy and better protection from interference.
• When: Demo due within 18 months of contract; follow-on decision within 180 days after a successful demo; briefing and report due within two years of the law’s enactment.