Battle in Space: Detect & Geolocate GPS Jamming Signals

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Spire is at the forefront of detecting and geolocating GPS jamming and spoofing signals, crucial in protecting U.S. space assets and superiority. With GPS jamming and spoofing cases escalating globally, our cutting-edge monitoring and research technologies are pivotal in maintaining the nation’s information dominance. By bolstering our geolocation capabilities, Spire aids in preserving the global power balance through space technology, ultimately promoting peace. We’ve been vigilant in tracking the spread of space and cyber weapons, ensuring our advancements continually support U.S. interests.

Suspicious Signals: How Can We Locate and Identify Them?

The U.S. military faces a growing challenge as GPS jamming incidents surge in conflict zones. Reports indicate successful jamming of U.S. aircraft in Syria, North Korea, and beyond, highlighting the urgent need to detect and pinpoint sources of GPS jamming and spoofing to ensure warrior safety. Jamming occurs when intentionally produced radio frequency (RF) signals block genuine satellite signals, disrupting receiver operations and critical data transmission. Meanwhile, spoofing involves RF signals mimicking true signals, causing the display of false information. For years, GPS technology has been susceptible to these jamming and spoofing attacks due to the weak signal strength from GPS satellites.

Can jamming and spoofing be effectively mitigated?

GPS signals are vulnerable to jamming and spoofing, and these methods are constantly evolving, posing significant threats. In 2019, USAF F-35s encountered jamming in Israeli airspace originating from a Syrian air base, highlighting the potential dangers. Similarly, during NATO military exercises in the Baltic Sea, involving 40,000 troops from all 29 member states, jamming disrupted operations. The Center for Advanced Defense (C4ADS) analyzed AIS data, revealing that numerous vessels were spoofed while navigating Shanghai’s Huangpu River. This spoofing created confusion in maritime traffic by forming large circles known as “crop circles.” Moreover, truckers in the U.S. can purchase cheap gps jammers to evade employer tracking, further illustrating the widespread accessibility and use of these devices. Conventional spoofing techniques can be overt, involving a jam-then-spoof strategy where the false signal dominates, or covert, where the counterfeit signal aligns with and overtakes the true signal. These incidents underscore the urgent need for enhanced GPS security measures.

How does cutting-edge technology aid GPS jamming detection and enhance geolocation solutions?

Spire’s CubeSats, equipped with flexible software-defined radios, are revolutionizing the detection and geolocation of signals of interest. While existing methods relying on powerful ground or WiFi-based PNT solutions effectively prevent jamming and spoofing, Spire has taken a novel approach. Leveraging a low-Earth orbit (LEO) constellation of nanosatellites, we’ve actively researched and tested our capabilities, recently achieving a significant milestone. Our customers have validated our success in detecting cooperative GPS jamming signals, demonstrating Spire’s commitment to staying at the forefront of technology and research in this domain.

The Spire GNSS reflectometry (GNSS-R) instrument, designed to study GNSS signals reflected or scattered by the Earth’s surface, offers remarkable versatility. It’s an SDR receiver equipped with two high-gain, nadir-oriented L-band antennas, capable of capturing raw recordings and making precise measurements of GNSS signals emanating from the Earth’s surface. What’s more, the zenith L-band antenna supports dual-frequency (L1/L2), enabling precise positioning of Spire satellites. As a result, variations of the Spire GNSS-R satellites are ideal for detecting and geolocating GNSS jammer sources. Spire can enhance its GNSS-R payload’s capabilities to detect GPS jammers and utilize our LE MURs in flight formation to pinpoint the emissions.

Spire is at the forefront of developing cutting-edge technology for on-orbit gps jammer detection. Our research focuses on both multi-satellite and single satellite receiving scenarios, aiming to provide accurate and reliable monitoring of GNSS signals. Through rigorous studies on LEO orbit GNSS interference, we have found that both approaches yield effective results in detecting and tracking these signals.

For multi-satellite geolocation, we utilize a method where two LEO satellites fly in parallel formation. This strategy enables us to employ a range of geolocation techniques, which become even more versatile when three or more satellites are involved. Currently, we are implementing advanced hybrid TDOA and FDOA methods to achieve precise RF geolocation when multiple satellites simultaneously receive the target signal.

In the case of single satellite interference monitoring, we rely on Doppler-based measurements to derive an unambiguous geolocation solution. This approach is particularly useful when only one satellite is available to receive the signal.

Overall, Spire’s innovative approaches in GPS jammer detection demonstrate our commitment to enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of GNSS signal monitoring. By leveraging both multi-satellite and single satellite techniques, we are paving the way for more reliable and secure navigation systems.

Spire’s RF geolocation expert, Dr. Patrick Ellis, recently unveiled a cutting-edge passive geolocation solution for single satellites. This innovative approach, detailed in his latest paper, demonstrates remarkable performance in single-pass, single transmission, short duration scenarios, ensuring computational feasibility for real-time processing. The technique involves a two-step RF emitter geolocation processing chain. Initially, it estimates Doppler and Doppler Rate, and then skillfully maps these measurements to pinpoint an unknown emitter’s location using a nonlinear filtering method. While the single satellite method presents inherent challenges, it emerges as a cost-effective and infrastructure-friendly alternative to multi-satellite approaches. Spire’s geolocation experts are continuously refining this method to enhance accuracy and mitigate risks, paving the way for its adaptation in geolocating GPS jammers.

Can Spire Effectively Identify Threat Signals Utilizing GNSS-RO Satellites?

In April, Spire exhibited its multi-satellite prowess for a U.S. government client, swiftly mobilizing three GNSS radio occultation (RO) satellites. These satellites were strategically deployed to gather unprocessed Intermediate Frequency (IF) data during jamming tests conducted within the continental U.S. The tests revealed that the antenna polarization and orientation of Spire’s 3U RO CubeSats were adept at picking up signals emitted by specific GPS jammers. Following an initial assessment, the client confirmed that Spire had indeed detected the jammer signals using its GNSS-RO satellites. At least two satellite passes were carefully aligned to observe the jammer in action, promptly collecting crucial raw IF data. Initial data downloads indicated a notable surge in spectral activity within the GPS L1 band, further validating Spire’s capability to detect and monitor such threats.

With over 40 geolocation-capable satellites already in orbit, Spire is leading the way in providing cutting-edge geolocation and interference monitoring services to the defense community. Our constellation offers reliable, accurate, and cost-effective solutions, giving us a significant advantage over other providers still in their early R&D phases. Recently, we conducted our first GPS jamming detection test, which proved our ability to identify jamming signals with precision. The collected signals, confirmed by both Spire and the customer, originated from the designated test location, matching the expected Doppler characteristics of a jammer. This successful test marks a significant milestone in our journey to deliver unparalleled geolocation services. We are confident that our advanced techniques, coupled with our extensive satellite network, will enable us to pinpoint the origin of jamming signals accurately, further enhancing our offerings to the defense sector.

How CubeSats Dominate the Battlespace?

Ready to revolutionize space operations, Spire’s LEO nanosatellite constellation offers unparalleled GNSS jamming detection and geolocation services, blending affordability, signal strength, pinpoint accuracy, and extensive coverage. Our proven LEMUR-2 3U CubeSat bus stands ready, paving the way for mission-critical GPS jamming and spoofing geolocation capabilities. This not only puts adversaries on notice but also fosters trust between warfighters and modern technology, especially AI. As we expand our payload offerings, test new use cases, and redefine space operations, we’re committed to harnessing the power of small satellites to solve the next big problem. Read more on our blog to discover the future of space exploration with Spire.