📋 Tender Overview
At its meeting on December 13, 2024, the Federal Council approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the US Department of Defense regarding participation in the Global Positioning System. This ensures that Switzerlands access to the Protected Positioning Service GPS (PPS GPS) and the associated user devices of both the US Department of Defense and the other nations that sign the MOU is maintained. Participation in the MOU increases Switzerlands opportunities for international cooperation and increases the interoperability of the systems used by the Swiss Army.
The US Department of Defense introduced the Global Positioning System (GPS) in the 1970s. GPS data is now essential for many civilian and military systems. GPS offers two levels of accuracy - a Protected Positioning Service (PPS) and a Standard Positioning Service (SPS).SPS GPS is an open service that offers a lower level of accuracy and performance and is available to all users free of charge. In contrast, PPS GPS offers the highest level of accuracy and, in particular, protection against interference. Access to use PPS GPS is encrypted. Only government agencies can use the signal because it is a protected, non-public signal. It therefore offers a higher level of security and is more resistant to interference in all situations than SPS GPS. Benefits for SwitzerlandThe MOU with the US Department of Defense simplifies access to PPS GPS and the associated user devices for both the US Department of Defense and the other nations that sign the MOU.
In addition to Switzerland, another 37 countries want to sign the MOU with the US Department of Defense, including almost all European countries as well as Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan and South Korea. Participation in the MOU also increases Switzerlands opportunities for international cooperation and increases the interoperability of the systems used by the Swiss Army. Participation in the MOU simplifies cooperation and the exchange of information between the participating countries and with the US authorities in the area of secure GPS data. The MOU also allows the development, manufacture, sale and thus also the procurement of encrypted GPS devices from participating nations. Among other things, this can also reduce the effort involved in procurement projects. In addition, a potentially larger selection of suppliers of GPS equipment is available, which has a positive effect on competition and procurement prices.
