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

The U.S. Army awarded Austin-based Tern an $11.26 million contract to install its GPS-free navigation system in military vehicles, using a device that taps vehicle diagnostics and outputs latitude/longitude via a tablet. The technology, which the company says never lost position on a 1,300-mile test, operates as a closed, jam-resistant system suitable for tunnels, deserts and contested environments.