Modern aircraft heavily rely on global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), commonly known as GPS, to pinpoint their precise location. These include the likes of the US Global Positioning System, Europe’s Galileo, Russia’s GLONASS, and China’s BeiDou, all utilizing satellite networks to triangulate receiver positions. When aircraft employ ADS-B technology, this determined location is transmitted via transponder to both ground stations and other airborne crafts. However, disruptions in these vital signals can have profound effects, ranging from altered flight tracking displays to, in severe scenarios, compromised aircraft operations. GPS jamming, interference, and spoofing are distinct threats that can cause such disruptions. To visualize where these incidents occur, explore our interactive GPS jamming map, highlighting affected regions across the globe. Additionally, learn how to identify GPS jamming on Flightradar24, a crucial skill for maintaining aviation safety and transparency.
Discover the various ways interference can impact GPS, ranging from harmless disruptions to malicious spoofing attempts. Explore these scenarios and gain insights from our latest Flightradar24 GPS Jamming Map, revealing the extent and impact of such disturbances.
- Natural Interference vs Technical Failures: What’s the Difference?
- How GPS Jamming Works?
- How About GPS Spoofing?
- How Does GPS Spoofing Manifest on Flightradar24?
- Where Do GPS Interference Hotspots Exist Globally?
- Can GPS Jamming or Spoofing Impact Commercial Passenger Aircraft?
- Where Do GPS Interference Hotspots Primarily Occur Globally?
- Where Are the Global GPS Interference Hotspots Located?
Natural Interference vs Technical Failures: What’s the Difference?
GPS signals can experience benign interruptions due to natural factors or technical issues beyond human control. Solar storms, for instance, naturally disrupt GPS signals temporarily. Additionally, GPS equipment, like all technologies, is prone to occasional failures. However, in the commercial aviation industry, such occurrences are anticipated and accounted for, posing minimal risks to flight safety.
How GPS Jamming Works?
GPS jamming, a growing concern, involves the deliberate saturation of GPS receivers with unknown signals, rendering them unusable and significantly impeding effective navigation. This disruption can occur accidentally, particularly when a GPS receiver is in close proximity to a high-power transmitter of another type, emitting false information. However, there’s a noticeable rise in deliberate GPS jamming using illicit devices installed in vehicles and homes, with numerous online tutorials facilitating their low-cost creation. Although GPS jamming is prohibited in countries like the US and UK, it remains unregulated in many regions. To mitigate this, we utilize Multilateration, or ‘MLAT’, to track flights encountering GPS jamming where feasible.
MLAT technology tracks aircraft over the Black Sea, north of Turkey, where GPS and ADS-B signals are unreliable. This ensures safe monitoring of flights in the region, despite signal interference.
How About GPS Spoofing?
GPS spoofing involves transmitting a fake signal that deceives GPS receivers, causing them to display incorrect aircraft positions and/or times. This deliberate action can only be achieved through purpose-built devices, often originating from military operations, or crafted by individuals with nefarious intents. GPS spoofing is a highly effective method, with a 100% success rate in misleading GPS systems.
How Does GPS Spoofing Manifest on Flightradar24?
When aircraft operating over the Black Sea stop sending position updates, Flightradar24 estimates their course based on intended destination. This can lead to spoofing, where the aircraft appears on the map in places it’s not actually flying. However, once the GPS jamming ends, the aircraft resumes accurate position broadcasting. While GPS signals can be spoofed, it requires a significant and advanced effort to alter the signal and impact the flight negatively. The example below illustrates a flight that encountered this issue, with its estimated path plotted on a great circle until the jamming ceased and real-time position updates resumed.
In commercial aviation, GPS signals are often utilized alongside the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) for general navigation, ensuring accurate positional information. During precision airport approaches, crews may also rely on the Ground-Based Augmentation System (GBAS) for enhanced accuracy. To further verify their positions, crews can turn to inertia-based navigation systems. This integrated approach, combining various data sources, allows for comprehensive cross-referencing, thereby guaranteeing the highest levels of navigational precision and safety.
Where Do GPS Interference Hotspots Exist Globally?
Discover the latest trends in GPS jamming and spoofing worldwide. Our interactive GPS Jamming Map reveals current and historical patterns, pinpointing hotspots like the Black Sea for jamming and Iraq, Ukraine, Russia, and the eastern Mediterranean for spoofing activities. Explore the data-driven visualization to stay informed on global GPS interference.
Can GPS Jamming or Spoofing Impact Commercial Passenger Aircraft?
Commercial flight crews are highly trained in risk management, ensuring they can maintain calm and methodical responses even when facing GPS jamming or spoofing. Such crews are well-versed in using backup instrumentation when GPS signals are disrupted, guaranteeing the safe operation and completion of flights. This means that a false GPS signal triggering a warning in the flight deck won’t faze them; instead, they’ll diagnose the issue and act appropriately.