Rising GPS Interference on Aircraft

Sub : Sci

Sec: Awareness in IT, Computer

Why in News

Instances of GPS interference, including spoofing attacks, have surged globally, particularly along India’s borders with Pakistan and Myanmar. This poses significant risks to aviation safety, affecting navigation accuracy and flight operations.

What is GPS Interference and Spoofing?

GPS Interference: Disruption in the accuracy of GPS signals used for navigation.
Spoofing: A cyberattack where false GPS signals are transmitted to mislead navigation systems.
The attacker mimics legitimate GPS signals. Tricks systems into perceiving false locations, speeds, or altitudes.
Impacts: Disruption in navigation accuracy for aircraft and drones. Can trigger erroneous speed or terrain warnings. Used in modern warfare and conflict zones to mislead enemies.
Examples: Frequent along India-Pakistan and India-Myanmar borders. Contributed to aviation incidents, such as the Azerbaijan Airlines crash.
Regions Affected: Identified since September 2023, with new hotspots in 2024, including:
- Northern Iraq (Baghdad area).
- Black Sea region.
- Western Russia and Baltics.
- North and South Korea border areas.
- India-Pakistan and India-Myanmar borders.

Inertial Reference System (IRS):

A self-contained navigation system that provides position, velocity, and orientation without external signals like GPS.
Components:
- Gyroscopes: Measure angular velocity.
- Accelerometers: Track linear acceleration.
- Integrated to calculate the position relative to a known starting point.
Independent of external signals, ensuring reliability in GPS-denied environments. Can operate safely for up to five hours during GPS failure.
Acts as a redundancy mechanism to maintain navigation accuracy.
Ensures aircraft safety during GPS interference or spoofing attacks.