Jamming and Spoofing Threats: Not “if” but “when”

Amazingly, a catastrophic incident has not yet occurred. And unfortunately, it seems to be a question of “when”, not “if”. The ongoing armed conflicts happening in Ukraine, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia are resulting in never-before-seen levels of interference — specifically jamming and spoofing.

We are witnessing near-daily examples of how jamming and spoofing can directly cause inaccurate or disrupted positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) data in civil/commercial aviation, maritime navigation, and – of course – military operations. These incidents can directly cause critical safety risks, including navigational errors, flight path deviations, and compromised communication between aircraft and air traffic control, for example. These disruptions not only jeopardize passenger safety but also pose significant operational challenges for airlines and maritime shipping, potentially resulting in delays, diversions, and increased fuel consumption.

Positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) systems and subsystems that have not been tested for their resiliency are especially at risk in these volatile environments. Case in point: the potential dangers of commercial aviation not leveraging proper PNT resilience testing are starkly illustrated by incidents such as those reported by Newsweek in 2023, where Russia was suspected of jamming GPS signals affecting thousands of airline flights, as well as the incident reported by NPR in April 2024, detailing GPS spoofing in the Middle East.

GPS spoofing involves broadcasting false signals to deceive GPS receivers, leading them to calculate incorrect positions or times. Such attacks can have severe consequences – from transportation and logistics to telecommunications and finance. In the case of Israel, where GPS spoofing affected shipping navigation, the implications for maritime safety and economic stability are starkly evident.

Mitigate the Risks of Satellite Signal Interference With Robust PNT Testing

To mitigate these very real and growing risks, robust PNT testing protocols and tools are indispensable. Resilient testing involves rigorous evaluations of PNT systems under simulated real-world conditions, including spoofing attacks. By subjecting PNT systems to controlled adversarial scenarios, manufacturers, developers, and operators can not only identify vulnerabilities, but implement necessary safeguards and strategies before deployment.

Robust PNT testing, utilizing tools like Safran’s GNSS simulators, are essential to ensure that PNT systems can withstand intentional interference or unintentional signal disruptions, safeguarding the reliability and safety of global air, land, and sea transportation networks.

Advantages of Safran GNSS Simulation Platforms

A GNSS simulator such as Safran’s GSG-8 is an indispensable tool for organizations seeking a robust PNT testing solution – whether for aerospace, automotive, telecommunications, or defense applications. How can a GNSS simulator make a difference?

• Software-Defined Architecture: a simulator using SDA (e.g.: non FPGA) allows for high-capacity of signals, and flexible and customizable signal generation tailored to specific testing requirements. All of this results in the most realistic simulations possible by allowing users to simulate the thousands of signals that are actually being emitted.
• Multi-Constellation Simulation: Capable of simulating GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, NavIC, BeiDou, and Custom/LEO satellite constellations concurrently. Many simulators only allow a few constellations at a time.
• Multi-frequency: In addition to multiple satellite constellations, Safran GNSS simulators are capable of generating multiple and simultaneous frequencies thus realistically simulating the increased number of signals in view – including S-Band!
• RF Signal Fidelity: Provides high-fidelity signal simulation, replicating real-world conditions accurately.
• Jamming/ Spoofing Scenario Replication: Enables the creation of complex interference scenarios, including jamming, spoofing, and meaconing attacks, to assess system resilience.
• Real-Time Control: Offers real-time control and monitoring capabilities during testing sessions.
• Ease of Use: Based on the Skydel simulation engine, Safran solutions have an intuitive user interface for simplified setup and operation.
• Scalability: Supports scalable testing configurations suitable for small-scale lab testing to large-scale NavWar testing scenarios.
• Future-Proofing: Software updates ensure compatibility with evolving GNSS technologies, latest COTS hardware, and security standards.

Conclusion

In response to these challenges, industry leaders and policymakers must prioritize investment in advanced testing frameworks and standards. Collaborative efforts between government agencies, academia, and private sectors can drive innovation in PNT security, ensuring continuous improvement and adaptation to emerging threats.

For its part, Safran is heavily invested in the Minerva Academic Partnership Program that joins forces with universities around the world and donates their Skydel GNSS simulation software in order to better research and advance future PNT technology and resilience.

Also, Safran is the world leader in Resilient PNT systems and offers a comprehensive Simulation and Interference Detection & Monitoring (IDM) solutions for both the civilian and defense markets.

Safran’s IDM suite offers a comprehensive array of GPS/GNSS spoofing and jamming monitoring, detection, suppression, and countermeasure technologies, ranging from strategies to protect government and critical infrastructure facilities to lightweight technologies designed to thwart spoofers and jammers across all types of environments – land, sea, and air.

The GPS spoofing incidents in Russia and Israel serves as a stark wake-up call for the importance of resilient PNT testing across commercial and civilian applications. By embracing rigorous testing protocols, stakeholders can fortify PNT systems against malicious attacks, safeguarding critical infrastructure, economic stability, and public safety in an increasingly interconnected world.