GNSS Spoofing: addressing a growing threat in 2024 to aviation safety

GNSS spoofing is becoming an increasingly critical issue for aviation safety. Reports indicate a significant rise in spoofing incidents globally, with daily affected flights increasing from a few dozen to over 1,100 between early and late 2024. These attacks, originally confined to conflict zones like Ukraine and the Middle East, now impact civilian flights worldwide. Spoofing can disrupt navigation systems, cause false terrain warnings, and mislead pilots with incorrect position data, posing risks to safety and efficiency.

Efforts to mitigate spoofing include training flight crews to recognize and respond to interference, upgrading navigation equipment to resist false signals, and incorporating redundancy with inertial navigation systems (INS). Collaborative initiatives by organizations like EASA and IATA aim to share best practices and develop resilient technologies. Aviation stakeholders are also exploring complementary navigation technologies, such as eLORAN, to enhance reliability in areas affected by spoofing. While these systems are promising, developing comprehensive industry standards is ongoing, with finalizations expected by 2025.

You can explore reports from aviation safety organizations like EASA and publications such as GPS World for detailed insights. These resources provide updates on the technical, regulatory, and operational strategies implemented to address GNSS spoofing challenges.

Click here for more info about EASA GPS spoofing.

Click here for more info about GPS World.