US Army taps TERN for $11.26 million AI navigation deal

The contract reflects a growing recognition within the US military that GPS can no longer be assumed available on the battlefield. Recent conflicts, particularly Russia's war in Ukraine and the US war against Iran, have demonstrated how jamming and signal loss can degrade navigation and communications. Department of Defense and Army leaders have repeatedly highlighted the risks of overreliance on GPS and pushed for alternatives vital in contested environments.

TERN's approach uses sensors already on vehicles, enhanced with AI, and pre-loads geographic areas so soldiers can navigate offline. The company says the system also maps off-road environments that traditional navigation often struggles with. If connection is regained, the map updates like a civilian navigation app. The vehicle health system uses similar methods to monitor maintenance needs and fuel levels, flagging issues for commanders.

The outcome hinges on how broadly the Army fields the technology and whether TERN can adapt it to uncrewed ground vehicles as planned. For defense contractors, the contract signals demand for jamming-resistant, offline-capable systems. For soldiers, the test is whether the interface proves as intuitive in the field as TERN claims.