GPS Interference

Why in the news?

Recently, GPS interference has emerged as one of the biggest challenges for seafaring vessels and aircraft.

What is GPS interference?

• Global Positioning System (GPS) – It is a space-based radio-navigation system, owned by the U.S. Government and operated by the United States Air Force (USAF).
• It can pinpoint a 3 dimensional position to meter-level accuracy and time to the 10-nanosecond level, worldwide and 24/7.

• GPS Interference – It refers to spoofing or jamming, two types of deliberate cyber-attacks on GPS signals, which disrupt or deceive vehicles’ navigation systems.
• While both are often used synonymously with each other, spoofing and jamming refer to slightly different.

• Causes – GPS interference can occur due to various reasons, not all of them malicious.
  • Electromagnetic radiation from nearby devices
  • Adverse atmospheric conditions like ionospheric disturbances, solar activity (such as flares)
  • Intentional jamming/spoofing.

Why is it dangerous?

• Disrupts military operations - Spoofing can cause a pilot to misjudge the aircraft’s position, increasing the chance of collisions with terrain or other aircraft.
  • In 2024, reports indicated up to 700 daily GPS spoofing incidents globally, highlighting the scale of the threat.
• Interrupts civilian transport – It can severely disrupt civilian transport by causing navigational errors, leading to potential collisions, groundings, and traffic chaos.
• Disrupts maritime navigation – It can also lead to piracy, disastrous events.
  • Persian Gulf and the Red Sea amid ongoing conflicts are one of the vulnerable regions.

• Rising conflicts between nations – If one nation suspects another of GPS interference, it can lead to accusations, diplomatic tensions, and even retaliatory measures, potentially escalating the situation.
• Airspace avoidance – For aircraft, spoofing is one of the primary risks of being in the airspace of countries in war.
• It force the nations to immediately avoid these areas as a preventive measure.
  • For example, avoiding respective airspace during Russia and Ukraine conflict.
• Navigation dependence vulnerability - A mere dependence on GPS navigation is dangerous, if GPS interference happens, leads to disruptions in daily operations and disasters.
  • For instance, during the 1999 Kargil war and during in 2009 and 2012 Brahmos missile tests - US denied access to GPS.
• Displays false information – Leading to collision of ships, aircraft accidents, and civilian vessel crashes etc.

How it can be prevented?

• Using alternative navigation systems - Aircraft experiencing GPS spoofing mid-air can rely on other navigation systems like
  • Inertial Navigation Systems (INS) – It use gyroscopes and accelerometers to track the aircraft’s current position based on its last known location.
  • VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) and Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) – It provide ground-based radio navigation, allowing pilots to further cross-check their position.
  • Instrument Landing Systems (ILS) – They are critical for precision approaches during landing, are unaffected by GPS spoofing.
• Enhancing crew training - Pilots are also encouraged to listen carefully to the control room to pick up any chatter of suspected GPS spoofing and become immediately cautious of the possibility.
• Employing alert systems - Involving sophisticated technology to alert and take control of the aircraft/ships from auto-pilot mode to the manual mode.
• Effective Use of terrestrial navigation – It involves manual position fixing using land-based aids like lighthouses and radars, the immediate alternative to maintain situational awareness.

What lies ahead?

• Diversifying navigation systems can be to mitigate the risks of GPS interference in the future.
• Multi-constellation Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) systems can be adapted to mitigate against GPS interference.

Reference

The Indian Express| GPS Interference Threats