Atomic clocks may keep Air Force drone swarms flying without GPS

The US Air Force is developing advanced position, navigation, and timing (PNT) systems using atomic clock technology to enable swarms of small drones to operate effectively in GPS-denied or jammed environments. Central to this effort is the Joint Multi-INT Precision Reference (JMPR) testbed, which incorporates a Next Generation Atomic Clock (NGAC) capable of single-digit picosecond stability and sub-nanosecond accuracy. This extreme timing precision allows drones to synchronize movements, share data seamlessly, and maintain formation without relying on vulnerable satellite signals, addressing challenges posed by adversaries’ GPS jamming and spoofing tactics observed in conflicts like the war in Ukraine. The Air Force envisions a decentralized, open PNT architecture where drones use onboard sensors and relative positioning to create local reference frames, enabling “cold-start, progressively enhanced PNT.” This approach allows swarms to establish timing and spatial awareness from zero reference and improve accuracy as more drones join the network, ensuring resilience in contested airspace