From Ami Silberman:
"Stuf4" wrote
An illustration as to why, consider the case of satcom. The triad had
the capability to destroy the USSR several times over prior to satcom
(and after satcom). Yet satcom still offered new offensive strike
capability in the command and control aspects.

GPS offered new offensive strike capability in the navigational
aspects.

I would say "enhanced existing strike capability". With the exception of the
Stealth aircraft, there isn't anything the USAF can do now it couldn't do in
1973, except now they do it much better.

I recently posted one example of a new capability provided by GPS:
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GPS was designed from the outset to create new capability for
offensive strategic forces. Consider, for example, the planning of
the route taken by a B-52. The Strategic Air Command had a
requirement for how often navigational fixes needed to be available
for updates of the nav system to prevent the INS position from
wandering off.

One consequence was that missions planned over the open ocean had to
periodically be within radar fix distance of identifiable land points.
GPS eliminates that constraint, creating new capability for mission
planning.
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There are other examples which are more significant, such as GPS-aided
inflight INS alignment.


~ CT