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

The U.S. Army has awarded an $11 million contract to Tern, an Austin-based startup developing advanced navigation technology. Tern, which describes its platform as "Google Maps for the battlefield," focuses on providing precise positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) solutions in environments where traditional GPS signals are unreliable or jammed. This significant investment highlights the military's growing interest in resilient, localized navigation systems to ensure operational effectiveness in contested electronic warfare scenarios. By leveraging Tern’s proprietary technology, the Army aims to enhance the situational awareness of its units on the ground. The funding marks a major milestone for the startup as it scales its operations and integrates its software into defense-grade hardware. This partnership underscores the broader trend of the U.S. defense sector increasingly turning to agile, venture-backed startups to solve critical technological challenges in modern warfare.