Australia Emergency Services Train Without GPS: Sextant & Maps 2026

Australia's emergency services and military personnel are now training to navigate without GPS using paper maps, street directories, and even sextants to prepare for a potential satellite blackout. At the 19th Australian Space Forum in Adelaide, experts warned that most Australians are unaware how heavily daily life depends on space infrastructure—from ATM networks to emergency response communications. The panel asked: what happens if we suddenly lose access to satellites, GPS, remote sensing, or secure communications? The answer, they say, is not science fiction.

Why Australia Is Vulnerable to Satellite Disruptions

Australia has one of the highest per capita dependencies on satellite infrastructure in the world, according to Optus satellite and space systems head Nick Leake. He described how ATM networks, emergency services situational awareness, aircraft navigation, Defence communications, and remote community connectivity all rely on space-based systems. A solar flare or enemy attack could cause immediate cascading failures in aviation, freight, energy grids, and financial systems.

Jackie Craig AM, a cyber warfare expert and incident management volunteer with the South Australian State Emergency Service, noted that emergency services are increasingly dependent on increasingly vulnerable systems. To combat this, they now teach members to navigate with street directories and paper maps—a skill that has become lost among younger generations raised on Google Maps.

How Emergency Services Are Retraining

The training includes using sextants for celestial navigation, reading topographic maps, and practicing radio communication without satellite relays. The goal is to maintain operational effectiveness during a total or partial loss of space assets. Key areas of focus include:

• Reading paper maps and street directories
• Using sextants and star charts for land and sea navigation
• Establishing backup radio networks independent of satellites
• Conducting drills that simulate GPS denial
• Coordinating with remote communities that may be cut off

Comparison: GPS-Dependent vs. Backup Navigation Methods

What This Means for Everyday Australians

Most people don’t realise that their phone calls, banking transactions, and even electricity delivery rely on satellites. Leake warned that Australia’s space infrastructure is largely unguarded and that a single solar storm or cyberattack could disrupt services for days or weeks. The training programs for emergency services are a model for broader community preparedness.

Citizens can also take simple steps: keep a paper road map in your car, learn basic compass navigation, and have a battery-powered radio for emergency alerts. Knowing how to navigate without your phone is a practical skill that could save lives.

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