Plane jamming explained: Why are more planes losing GPS signal? - What in the World podcast

Key Concepts

• GPS Jamming: Deliberately interfering with GPS signals by broadcasting signals on the same frequency, blocking legitimate signals.
• GPS Spoofing: Transmitting fake GPS signals to receivers, causing them to display incorrect timing or location information.
• GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System): The correct umbrella term for satellite-based navigation systems, with GPS being the most commonly used term.
• Navigation Integrity Category (NIC) Value: A value transmitted by aircraft indicating the precision of their GPS signal. A value below eight suggests GPS interference.
• Hybrid Warfare: A military strategy that blends conventional warfare, irregular warfare, and cyberwarfare, including disinformation and interference with critical infrastructure.
• Critical Infrastructure: Essential systems and services that support a country's economy and security, such as communication networks, power grids, and transportation systems.

GPS Jamming and Spoofing: A Growing Concern in Aviation

This report from BBC World Service's "What in the World" podcast, featuring BBC journalist Emilia Jansson, delves into the increasing phenomenon of GPS jamming and spoofing affecting flights globally, with a particular focus on its impact in Finland and the Baltic/Nordic regions.

Increased Incidents and Geographic Hotspots

• Finland's Experience: Finland has witnessed a noticeable increase in GPS jamming and spoofing incidents since the start of the war in Ukraine. This has led to significant disruptions, including a Finnish airline canceling all flights to an Estonian city for a month due to safety concerns for pilots attempting to land. Experts estimate that every single flight to Finland is affected by GPS disturbance in some way.
• Global Distribution: While jamming and spoofing for flights are often associated with war zones, incidents have also been observed in the Middle East and around the Black Sea (e.g., Turkey, Bulgaria). The Baltics and Nordics have emerged as a new "hotspot" for these activities.
• Authorities' Claims: Some authorities claim to have traced these signals to cities in Russia, suggesting a connection to Russia's alleged use of these tactics as part of modern hybrid warfare to sow confusion and disrupt life near borders. Russia has consistently denied these accusations.

Understanding GPS and Interference

• How GPS Works: GPS, or more broadly GNSS, relies on a network of satellites orbiting Earth that transmit signals. Receivers (in planes, cars, phones) use signals from at least four satellites to triangulate their precise location.
• Jamming Explained: Jamming involves broadcasting signals on the same frequency as legitimate GPS signals, effectively blocking them. This is likened to someone screaming in your ear during a conversation, making it impossible to communicate.
• Spoofing Explained: Spoofing involves sending incorrect or fake signals to a receiver. This can lead to inaccurate timing or location data being displayed.
• Flightradar24's Perspective: Ian Petchenik from Flightradar24 explained that aircraft transmit a "navigation integrity category" (NIC) value. If this value falls below eight, it indicates the aircraft is experiencing GPS interference, prompting pilots to rely on backup navigation systems.

The Impact on Aviation and Beyond

• Pilot Workload and Safety: While the UK Civil Aviation Authority has stated that risks to passengers are minimal due to backup systems, a leading Finnish aviation expert highlights that this interference significantly increases the workload for pilots and air traffic controllers, diverting their focus from essential tasks.
• High-Profile Suspected Incident: A notable suspected incident involved a flight carrying Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the EU, to Bulgaria. Reports indicated GPS jamming, forcing pilots to use physical maps for landing. Bulgarian authorities initially blamed Russia but later retracted their statements, citing uncertainty about the cause.
• Broader System Vulnerabilities: The report emphasizes that GPS is fundamental to numerous sectors beyond aviation, including telecommunications (phone calls), financial transactions (ATMs, stock exchange), and the electrical grid. The widespread reliance on GPS makes these systems vulnerable to jamming and spoofing.
• Governmental Responses: Countries are taking steps to protect critical infrastructure. France and the UK have announced a partnership to provide critical infrastructure resilience. The EU Defence Ministry plans to deploy additional satellites to detect and mitigate GPS disturbances. Airports and airlines are also adapting, with Finnish airports installing new infrastructure to compensate for unreliable GPS.

Accessibility of Technology and Mitigation Efforts

• Accessible Technology: The technology used for jamming can be surprisingly accessible, with occasional accidental jamming reported due to individuals testing equipment.
• Mitigation Strategies:
  • Satellite Deployment: The EU is deploying additional satellites for detection and mitigation.
  • Infrastructure Adaptation: Airports and airlines are investing in new infrastructure to ensure safe landings.
  • Political Condemnation: The UN body responsible for aviation has officially condemned Russia for plane jamming and spoofing.

Conclusion for Passengers

• Expert Reassurance: Experts overwhelmingly state that passengers should not be worried. Pilots are trained to handle GPS interference, and robust backup systems are in place.
• Passenger Experience: For regular passengers, the primary impact is the increased workload for flight crews, which they may not even be aware of. The overall safety of flights is not considered compromised for passengers.

This summary highlights the technical aspects of GPS interference, its geopolitical implications, and the ongoing efforts to address this evolving threat to global navigation and critical infrastructure.