Author Description

The European Union's global navigation satellite system, Galileo, poses concern for the United States' Global Positioning System. Areas of exploration include a brief history of satellite navigation and the Global Positioning System program, followed by an in-depth overview of the Galileo system, highlighting its multifaceted justification, expected economic benefits and revenue streams, and its four-year frequency battle with the Global Positioning System. Critical to this discussion is understanding Galileo as an expression of European sovereignty and the United States' corresponding reaction, the importance of the significant international interest in and cooperation with Galileo, and the strategic implications of China's evolving satellite navigation system. Five distinct actions by the United States government are necessary to protect its industrial, military, and national security interests: acknowledge the existing situation; ensure fair competition for satellite navigation hardware manufacturers; compel allied militaries to adopt GPS now; drive home the fact that, counter to European claims, the availability and precision of GPS will be on par with or better than Galileo; and secure China's cooperation in satellite navigation.