eLoran Upgrade to Backup GPS

Department of Homeland Security has announced support for an upgrade of the existing Loran-C navigation system to a new technology called eLoran.

In a statement issued on 8 February 2008, Department of Homeland Security Press Security Laura Keehner announced that DHS will implement an upgrade of the existing Loran navigation system to provide independent positioning, timing, and navigation information to complement the Global Positioning System (GPS). The new eLoran system will mitigate negative effects of a GPS outage and provide backup information to mariners and aviators. The system can be used in non-precision instrument approaches by aircraft, harbor approach procedures by mariners, and for mobile land navigation.

Loran-C historically delivered navigational accuracy down to 460 meters. Many have wondered about the fate of the existing Loran-C system and thought it was irrelevant with the adoption of GPS. Modernization of current Loran infrastructure will insure a stable future of the navigation system. Loran signals can often penetrate to receivers in topographical environments and terrain were GPS cannot function. Loran signals are less likely to be jammed or subject to interference. Receivers capable of using eLoran signals should be relatively inexpensive and could also be incorporated or co-located in GPS navigation receivers.

The U. S. Coast Guard has established an eLoran working group to establish augmentation of the new navigation technology.