Why in News?

Recent incidents—including a Delhi-Jammu flight turning back, a tanker collision at the Strait of Hormuz, and a container ship grounding near Jeddah—were all caused by GPS interference, which has now become a major threat to global aviation and maritime navigation.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• About GPS Interference
• Dangers Associated with GPS Interference
• Multiple Causes of GPS Interference
• How Aircraft Mitigate GPS Interference
• How Ships Handle GPS Spoofing
• Conclusion

About GPS Interference

• GPS interference refers to deliberate cyber-attacks that disrupt or deceive Global Positioning System (GPS) signals, affecting navigation for aircraft, ships, and other vehicles.
• Types of GPS Interference
  • GPS Jamming
    • Involves the use of a jammer device that emits strong radio signals on GPS frequencies.
    • These signals overpower the weaker satellite signals, causing GPS receivers to lose location and time data.
    • This is a form of signal disruption.
  • GPS Spoofing
    • Uses a device to transmit false signals that mimic those from GPS satellites.
    • It deceives receivers into accepting incorrect location or time data.
    • Unlike jamming, spoofing doesn’t block signals—it manipulates them.
• While often used interchangeably, jamming disrupts GPS functionality, whereas spoofing misleads the receiver.
• Both pose serious threats to navigation and safety in air and sea operations.

Dangers Associated with GPS Interference

• GPS interference poses a serious threat to both civilian and military operations, enabling remote disruption without physical confrontation.
• In 2024, there were reports of up to 700 GPS spoofing incidents daily worldwide, underlining the scale and urgency of the threat.
• Risks to Aviation and Maritime Safety
  • Spoofing can mislead pilots, causing incorrect position judgments and increasing the risk of collisions with terrain or other aircraft.
  • For ships, loss of GPS accuracy can lead to groundings, collisions, and disruption of maritime operations, including port functions.
  • GPS spoofing isn’t limited to air and sea—it can also disrupt road navigation, leading to traffic jams and paralyzing transport systems, particularly during emergencies.
• Impact on Critical Infrastructure
  • Air traffic control, port operations, and vessel traffic systems (VTS) are highly dependent on GPS.
  • Interference can cause systemic failures in these sectors, with wide-ranging safety and operational consequences.

Multiple Causes of GPS Interference

• GPS interference can arise from both natural and intentional sources, including:
  • Electromagnetic radiation from nearby devices
  • Ionospheric disturbances and solar flares
  • Deliberate jamming and spoofing in conflict zones
• Countries with advanced electronic warfare capabilities—especially those involved in active conflicts—are often responsible for intentional interference.
• While military in intent, civilian vessels and aircraft nearby can also be affected.
• Hotspots of GPS Interference
  • Persian Gulf and Red Sea
    • Maritime GPS interference has surged due to regional tensions.
    • Windward’s Q1 2025 data shows a 350% increase in spoofing in the Red Sea compared to 2024.
    • Vessels reported sudden jumps of hundreds of nautical miles.
  • Eastern Europe
    • Ongoing Russia–Ukraine war has led to frequent GPS spoofing incidents, especially affecting airspace safety.

How Aircraft Mitigate GPS Interference

• Use of Backup Navigation Systems
  • Inertial Navigation Systems (INS): Uses gyroscopes and accelerometers to calculate position from the last known location.
  • VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) and Distance Measuring Equipment (DME): Ground-based radio navigation aids that help pilots cross-check their position.
• Other Navigation Techniques
  • Dead reckoning and celestial navigation are rare but can be used in extreme cases.
    • Dead reckoning - the process of calculating one’s position by estimating the direction and distance travelled
  • Instrument Landing Systems (ILS) remain unaffected by spoofing and ensure safe landings.
• Crew Training and Communication
  • DGCA mandates enhanced crew training to identify and respond to spoofing threats.
  • Pilots are encouraged to monitor control room chatter for early warning signs.

How Ships Handle GPS Spoofing

• Manual Navigation During Spoofing
  • Ships typically operate on autopilot using GPS, but spoofing forces a switch to manual helm control.
  • Terrestrial navigation using lighthouses, radars, and paper charts ensures continued situational awareness.
• Adoption of Multi-GNSS Systems
  • Ships increasingly rely on multi-constellation Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), which includes:
    • U.S. GPS
    • Russia’s GLONASS
    • EU’s Galileo
    • China’s Bei Dou
  • This diversification reduces dependency on a single system and enhances resilience.

Conclusion

• Mitigating GPS interference involves a multi-layered approach:
  • Redundant systems in aircraft
  • Manual navigation and GNSS diversification in ships
  • National autonomy through indigenous systems like NavIC
• This strategy ensures continuity, safety, and sovereignty in navigation and critical operations.