Christian Kotscher, chief executive of MerlinTPS, explains how the aviation sector needs to navigate the challenges posed by GPS jamming and spoofing as incidents related to Russia and the war in Ukraine rise

If you’ve been following the news even casually over the past few months, you’ve likely noticed the ongoing trend of GPS jamming impacting European flights.

In the last two weeks alone, thousands of UK and European flights have been the target of suspected Russian GPS interference, marking the latest in a series of ongoing incidents affecting the region and other locations worldwide.

Ryanair and Wizz Air reported thousands of issues with their satellite navigation systems, with a smaller number of British Airways, Jet2, easyJet and Tui flights also impacted.

GPS jamming has increased significantly in recent years, particularly in conflict regions such as Ukraine, Russia and the Middle East, where it has been utilized as a military tool.

However, there has been a notable surge in incidents regarding UK and European flights in recent months.

Between August 2023 and March 2024, an alarming 46,000 aircrafts reported satellite navigation problems in the Baltic region, according to public logs examined by GPSJAM.org.

In December, Poland endured over 30 hours of widespread GPS interference across the country. Most recently, Finnair suspended flights to Tartu, Estonia, after GPS interference forced two flights from Helsinki to Tartu to return to their home base.

It’s evident that the problem has worsened and shows no signs of slowing down.

What is GPS Jamming and Spoofing?

GPS jamming occurs when someone intentionally overwhelms an aircraft’s signal equipment with sustained interference, disrupting its ability to send or receive information from global navigation satellite systems (GNSS).

Consequently, the aircraft’s location system ceases to function, leaving both the pilot and flight trackers unaware of its whereabouts. This significantly heightens the risk of accidents.

Jamming, along with the more deceptive tactic of spoofing, which manipulates GPS and misdirects navigators to make them think they are in a different location than they are, can severely compromise aircraft navigation systems.

Purchasing GPS jamming devices is also illegal, but they are inexpensive and easy to obtain online.

This is a dangerous tactic in warfare that puts civilian lives at risk. Not only that, but if something catastrophic were to happen mid-air, it could also impact lives and infrastructure on the ground.

Global Cases  

Satellite interferences in aviation extend beyond the UK and Europe. Global incidents have increased in the last year, particularly in conflict zones like the Middle East.

In September 2023, aircraft spoofing caused a series of complete navigational system failures in airlines and business jets flying over the Iraq-Iran region, nearly resulting in one jet entering Iranian airspace without clearance.

In 2019, a passenger aircraft was nearly lost due to widespread GPS jamming while approaching Idaho’s Friedman Memorial Airport in Sun Valley.

Subsequently, in 2022, substantial GPS interference near Denver and Dallas airports impacted air traffic and interfered with satellite signals in two separate instances.

The Denver incident lasted for over 33 hours before authorities discovered the source and put an end to it, while the Dallas incident lasted for 24 hours, but the source was never found.

In 2013, a New Jersey truck driver used a GPS jamming system to block his employer’s location tracking, resulting in disruptions at Newark airport and a $31,875 fine from the Federal Communications Commission.

The interference also affected the ground-based augmentation system being tested at the airport. This incident highlights how disruptions can even arise from civilians unaware of the severity and consequences of their actions, not just military operations.

Impacts on Civilian Life 

Although the recent GPS jamming in Europe hasn’t resulted in significant life-altering problems, it’s important to recognise that just one event could lead to a catastrophe.

With these events increasing, it’s only a matter of time before a devastating occurrence happens, but that doesn’t have to be the case.

It’s now more critical than ever for aviation companies to assess their current GPS systems seriously and collaborate with companies capable of developing navigational solutions independent of satellite signals.

While pilots have fallback methods, it’s unclear how advanced jamming and spoofing technology will become in the following years.

Implementing backup technologies that are not reliant on satellites is essential for ensuring the safety of pilots and civilians alike.

Moreover, on a smaller yet significant scale, such measures would enable airports to operate smoothly, maintain flight schedules and manage air traffic even amidst significant GPS disruptions.

This would help prevent scenarios like Finnair’s suspension of flights to Estonia, preserving operational continuity and public safety.

GPS Jamming Beyond Aviation

The effects of GPS jamming and spoofing aren’t limited to aviation; they also affect other vital infrastructure sectors.

Critical finance, telecommunications, energy, healthcare, emergency services and transportation systems depend on precise time signals for optimal operation.

However, these systems are vulnerable to GPS interference, and any disruptions in timing can lead to serious repercussions such as economic downturns, compromised safety and even loss of life.

Finding a Solution

While GNSS systems face vulnerabilities and are susceptible to interference, new terrestrial-based systems technology can offer a more resilient solution.

This technology uses position location systems that leverage land-based transmitters to act as reference points for calculating position information.

Additionally, dynamic signal broadcasts from terrestrial positioning systems can establish cybersecurity solutions for location, eliminating spoofing and jamming potential and ensuring verified positioning capabilities for planes.

As we navigate the challenges posed by GPS jamming and spoofing, the development and implementation of backup technologies become increasingly essential to safeguard critical infrastructure and ensure public safety within the aviation industry.

Having a GNSS or GPS backup on hand will help maintain services, especially within the aviation sector, and enable airlines to enhance the security and resilience of their infrastructure.

This not only saves money for airlines by ensuring flights don’t have to turn around or change course, which could result in delays and frustrated customers, but more importantly, protects them against disruptions that could put them in danger, ultimately enhancing safety and saving lives.