Beginning in the late 1970s the United States Department of Defense began work on GPS as a way of enhancing the US military's position around the world. The purpose of the system was to make sure there would be no surprises when it came to enemy and allied troop movements, missile locations and chemical weapons laboratory sites.
Operation Desert Storm, for instance, was a rousing success thanks to GPS. In the featureless terrain of the Iraqi desert, US forces were able to maneuver day and night because of receivers in the hands of ground troops and others installed in vehicles, helicopters, F-16 fighters, KC-135 aerial refuelers and B-2 bombers.
Learn even more about GPS. Continue on or click any of the links below to go directly to that topic.
