GPS

[sjsoon]

i am just wondering... are GPS system widely use in the military? are they issued to regular soldiers or just special forces? the trusty compass is still used yeah?

sorry.. noob question.. but i hope for some answers.. thank you..

[BT_Recon]

lots of people use individual purchase gps systems.

gps are also fairly widely issued to units that need them or at least will have access to them.

compass is also still being used, should always use a compass to back up a gps. computers break sometimes.

[sjsoon]

thanks thanks.... is there a particular standard issued GPS?

[moonmonkey]

we've always been taught to take a compass as batteries etc can short out, run out etc
as far as i know in most units you have to buy them yourself if you want to use them.

[flanker7]

thanks thanks.... is there a particular standard issued GPS?

It's called Precsion Lightweight Gps Receiver PLGR-96


http://www.militaryrf.com/graphics/plgr-tag-frnt.jpg

[DeltaWhisky58]

Isn't that set a bit old now - been around a long time.

[flanker7]

It's old but I think it's still issued

[MacDaddy]

You can't afford a GPS system. A GPS system consists of up to 23 satellites, all coordinated, communicated and synched by millions of dollars of structure back here on earth.
You can however, afford a GPS receiver, or GPSr. They cost anywhere from 65.00 to thousands. It depends on the degree of accuracy you're looking for.
Always carry a compass/map/chart when navigating with a GPSr if you have to get where you are going. Batts fail, technology fails, but the earth's magnetic fields rarely fail, although they do distort in some places occasionally. And no batteries required!
MD OS

[sjsoon]

thanks thanks.. sorry for my mistake.... GPS receiver...... thanks!

[Durandal]

Everything uses GPS.

Most guided munitions have GPS of a sort or another in them. From 155mm to JDAMs.

[Creeper]

I would like to add to the material that MACDADDY hit on.
Not only accuracy is optional, but functionality, programming/updating, color or not to color, size, and finally what you want it to do-(drive your car, boat, plane or your twp left feet.)

I also stress his 3rd sentence regarding other items required, veri important. Life or death important.

[Zorro C9]

GPS should be used to back up your compass, not the other way around.

[Herrmannek]

I must say compass is more faulty than gps, to use it correctly you need map and not older than ~10 years and with special magnetic deviation marking-s on it, you must know what minerals sits in the ground near you, you also have to have compass that is designed for the hemisphere you are in(most design of compasses demands particular different designs of needle for norht hemisphere and south hemisphere). Compases also break, you cant use them close to pileof metals, be it your rifle, helmet or your 5tonne truck... If I had to choose I would take GPS and spare bateries anyday.... Its easier to say when GPS fails than when compass does, so if that happens you can use stars, sun&watch, just a map or many other things lying around... I even don't say about unusability of compasses close to poles.... But thats my opinion :) I'm lazy techocrat and not-realy-wanabe...

[nognig]

Everything uses GPS.

Most guided munitions have GPS of a sort or another in them. From 155mm to JDAMs.

There is guided 155mm artillery?

NN

[flanker7]

Everything uses GPS.

Most guided munitions have GPS of a sort or another in them. From 155mm to JDAMs.

There is guided 155mm artillery?

NN

Yes, I cant remember the name right now but at least the new US 155mm Naval Gun will use a GPS guided shell with a very ong range(160km?)

[Durandal]

There is guided 155mm artillery?

NN

M982 ER DPICM

[Patricia 23U]

In the Canadian Army, every F-echelon vehicle has GPS/TAC NAV.

http://img325.imageshack.us/img325/4365/tacnavtls520x3659us.th.gif (http://img325.imageshack.us/my.php?image=tacnavtls520x3659us.gif)

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/8536/tacnav6ii.th.jpg (http://img257.imageshack.us/my.php?image=tacnav6ii.jpg)

It is a system that uses the PLGR or GPS as the primary source and uses a computer as the secondary or Dead Rechoning source, if the GPS goes down due to loss of signal or other problems.

In the army combat arms units (infantry, armour, artillery and engineers) every NCO and Officer carry's a compass and most soldiers do as well.

As with issuing of GPS in the army, every section (10 men) has a GPS PLGR in regards to front line units.

Depending on the situation, I usually rely on the GPS to get a grid to cofirm where I am on the ground, but use my compass and map as my primary means for navigation, when dismounted.

The currently issued PLGR,

http://img304.imageshack.us/img304/1824/picture201plgr3ry.th.jpg (http://img304.imageshack.us/my.php?image=picture201plgr3ry.jpg)

is in the process of being replaced by a new version, which is the Defense Advanced GPS Receiver (DAGR).

http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/6186/itfdagr0fd.th.jpg (http://img340.imageshack.us/my.php?image=itfdagr0fd.jpg)

more information on this new system for the Canadian military, and other NATO allies, can be found at:

http://www.rdecom.army.mil/rdemagazine/200412/in_the_field.html

[Patricia 23U]

here is some more info on DAGR:

http://www.rmc.ca/academic/conference/lftsp/projects_e.html

http://www.rmc.ca/academic/conference/lftsp/AMS_Symposium_05_Brochure.pdf

[flanker7]

Everything uses GPS.

Most guided munitions have GPS of a sort or another in them. From 155mm to JDAMs.

There is guided 155mm artillery?

NN

http://militaryphotos.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=61650
:)

[Apogee]

Isn't that set a bit old now - been around a long time.

It is pretty old, but its the most common issue set. Alot of people purchase their own. The issued one are still the best for very precise stuff like calling in arty.

[Para]

We had an officer who gets lost once he could not find a sign post, he would have killed for one those.