LOCATION & AZIMUTH DETERMINATION SYSTEM (LADS

The Location & Azimuth Determination System (LADS) program is a procurement initiative managed by the U.S. Army under the Weapons and Other Combat Vehicles appropriation. The primary goal of LADS is to provide a lightweight, portable, and deployable inertial survey capability for field artillery cannon, rocket, missile, radar, and mortar platforms. Unlike its predecessor, the Improved Position and Azimuth Determining System - GPS (IPADS-G), LADS is designed to operate independently of the Global Positioning System (GPS), addressing obsolescence issues and enhancing operational resilience in GPS-denied or degraded environments.

The objectives of the LADS program are focused on ensuring accurate location, azimuth, and direction data for all field artillery systems. This capability is essential for precision and near-precision fires, especially in contested environments where GPS signals may be jammed or unavailable. The system is engineered to be reliable, intuitive to use, and cost-effective. It is operable by multiple military occupational specialties and can be integrated into various vehicle platforms.

In Fiscal Year (FY) 2026, the budget line item supports production engineering and fielding costs for LADS, as well as compliance with Assured Position, Navigation, and Timing (APNT) initiatives, specifically Military Code (M-Code) integration. M-Code is a secure GPS signal mandated by federal law to improve security and resilience against electronic warfare threats. The FY 2026 funding reflects an increase from FY 2025, primarily to implement M-Code compliance and maintain operational tempo in GPS-contested environments.

The LADS Hardware Procurement subcomponent covers recurring costs for hardware acquisition, assembly, and integration, ensuring that each system is fully functional and ready for deployment. The budget further supports new equipment fielding and training, technical manual development, and publication, which are critical for effective system operation and maintenance by Army personnel.

The M-Code Compliance Initiative is a significant objective within the FY 2026 request. This initiative ensures that LADS remains compliant with evolving GPS security requirements, enabling continued precision fires and navigation in environments where GPS signals are compromised. Funding allocated to M-Code integration underscores the Army's commitment to maintaining technological superiority and operational effectiveness in modern combat scenarios.

Additional support elements in the LADS budget include initial spares and repair parts to ensure system sustainability and readiness. Production engineering and system engineering support are also funded to address technical integration, system upgrades, and lifecycle management. These investments are necessary for both active and reserve components, supporting homeland defense missions, domestic emergency responses, and military support to civil authorities as outlined in Section 1815 of the FY 2008 National Defense Authorization Act.