US Army places $11M bet on Austin-based GPS alternative Tern

The U.S. Army has contracted Austin-based Tern to deploy the startup’s navigation technology in military vehicles under an $11.26 million award. Tern has positioned its system as a low-cost alternative to GPS, designed to provide position and routing information where satellite signals are unreliable or unavailable.

Tern’s approach taps data modern vehicles already produce. The company supplies a device that connects to a vehicle’s diagnostics interface and wires to a tablet that serves as the soldier’s navigation display. Using edge processing and proprietary techniques, Tern translates that diagnostic and sensor data into latitude/longitude and routing guidance without relying on external satellite signals.

The company says the system can maintain positioning off-road, in tunnels and in other GPS-denied environments. Co-founder Brett Harrison described a recent 1,300-mile trip from Austin to Laguna Beach in which the system reportedly preserved the vehicle’s position continuously while traditional GPS dropped out multiple times. Tern also emphasizes that its closed, onboard architecture is harder for adversaries to disrupt than open satellite-based systems.

The Army’s award arrives as GPS disruptions have reportedly increased in regions such as the Middle East and over areas of conflict including Ukraine and Russia. The U.S. military has been experimenting with jamming techniques, and policymakers including members of Congress and former President Trump during his first term have pushed for resilient navigation technologies. Tern declined to detail the exact scale of the planned deployment under the contract, saying only that the system will be used in vehicles.