Defence has taken major steps to strengthen its warfighting edge with the establishment of the Joint Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) Directorate, which has now reached initial operating capability.
The directorate has rapidly become the central node for ensuring the Australian Defence Force (ADF) can operate effectively even when access to Global Positioning System (GPS) is degraded or denied.
For decades, GPS has served as the primary source of accurate PNT data, which underpins almost every aspect of modern military operations, enabling precision targeting, navigation and force synchronisation across domains.
But growing threats such as jamming, spoofing and anti-satellite weapons are challenging the ADF's reliance on GPS alone.
Director Joint Positioning, Navigation and Timing, Group Captain Tim Ireland, says PNT is a foundational enabler to the way the ADF fights as an integrated force.
"Whether it's ensuring the accuracy of precision munitions or synchronising distributed command and control, our war fighters must have confidence in their PNT data - even when GPS is compromised," Group Captain Ireland said.
'We regularly conduct GPS jamming activities to assess how systems behave under denied conditions.'
Established in April 2024, the Joint PNT Directorate leads the development of resilient PNT capabilities across Defence. Its work spans stakeholder engagement, training, test and evaluation, and capability development.
The 17-person team - comprising ADF (full-time and reservists) and Australian Public Service employees - recently deployed to Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025, where they conducted live testing and GPS-denial exercises at Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal and Delamere Air Weapons Range.
"We regularly conduct GPS jamming activities to assess how systems behave under denied conditions," Group Captain Ireland said.
"This testing helps operators and capability managers understand where their systems are vulnerable, and how to mitigate those risks through tactics, training and technology."
The directorate is also focused on advancing PNT standards and governance within Defence, and plays a key role in supporting capability managers to integrate PNT resilience into future acquisitions.
As the threat landscape evolves, the Joint PNT Directorate will continue to drive innovation and readiness, ensuring Australia's integrated force can operate, survive and prevail in the information age.
