Distributed positioning, navigation and timing (DPNT)

Positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) distribution systems are pervasive and critical on military platforms. It is shown that, for the most part, these systems are a hodgepodge of stovepipe architectures, technologies, and protocols. Their performance and operational limitations, plus lack of scalability are demonstrated. A strategy to solve these limitations is then introduced. We call it Distributed PNT (DPNT) and it is centered on (a) network-centric architecture, (b) distributed services, and (c) the adoption of standard navigation protocols. Although this paper concentrates on naval platforms, this DPNT concept is intended as a military-wide initiative.