GPS World

Category: Defense

  • EASA updates advisory on navigation interference

    EASA updates advisory on navigation interference

    Photo: GPS IIIF
    Photo: GPS IIIF

    The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has updated its Safety Information Bulletin (SIB) to address the growing number of GNSS outages and disruptions.  

    This updated advisory, SIB No. 2022-02R3, highlights the increasing sophistication and impact of GNSS jamming and spoofing, which have become significant concerns for aviation safety. 

    The bulletin is directed at competent authorities, Air Traffic Management/Air Navigation Services (ATM/ANS) providers, air operators, aircraft and equipment manufacturers and organizations involved in the design or production of ATM/ANS equipment. It aims to inform these stakeholders about the risks and necessary precautions related to GNSS interference. 

    Since February 2022, there has been a notable increase in GNSS jamming and spoofing, particularly in regions surrounding conflict zones and other sensitive areas such as the Mediterranean, Black Sea, Middle East, Baltic Sea and the Arctic, reports the EASA. These interferences can disrupt the accurate reception of GNSS signals, leading to various operational challenges for aircraft and ground systems. 

    Tackling jamming and spoofing  

    The bulletin addresses jamming and spoofing. Jamming involves intentional radio frequency interference that prevents GNSS receivers from receiving satellite signals, rendering the system ineffective or degraded, while spoofing involves broadcasting counterfeit satellite signals to deceive GNSS receivers, resulting in incorrect positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) data. Jamming typically results in immediate and noticeable effects, whereas spoofing is more difficult to detect and poses a higher safety risk. 

    Some symptoms of suspected GNSS spoofing include incoherence in navigation position, abnormal differences between ground speed and true airspeed, time and date shifts and spurious Terrain Awareness and Warning System (TAWS) alerts. These disruptions can lead to significant operational issues, such as re-routing or diversions, loss of Airborne Collision Avoidance System (ACAS) and misleading surveillance data. 

    EASA recommends several measures to reduce the risks associated with GNSS interference. These measures include establishing coordinated procedures between authorities, ATM/ANS providers and airspace users. The agency also suggests utilizing complementary PNT infrastructure and encourages users to implement a process to collect and report information on GNSS degradation. 

    Specific recommendations 

    For air operators:  

    • Train flight crews to recognize and respond to GNSS interferences. 
    • Promptly report any GNSS anomalies. 
    • Assess operational risks and maintain alternative navigation procedures. 

     For ATM/ANS providers:  

    • Establish monitoring and reporting processes for GNSS degradations. 
    • Ensure ground navigation infrastructure supports non-GNSS procedures. 
    • Provide navigation assistance and maintain communication coverage in case of GNSS jamming or spoofing. 

    For manufacturers:  

    • Assess the impact of GNSS interference on products and guide users. 
    • Support operators with instructions for managing GNSS-related issues. 

     Stakeholders are urged to implement the recommended measures to mitigate the impact of GNSS jamming and spoofing on aviation safety. 

    For further details, read the full EASA Safety Information Bulletin and visit the EASA website for updated information on affected regions. 

  • SandboxAQ unveils AI and quantum-powered navigation system

    SandboxAQ unveils AI and quantum-powered navigation system

    Photo: SandboxAQ
    Photo: SandboxAQ

    SandboxAQ has released AQNav, designed for navigation across air, land and sea when GPS signals are jammed or unavailable.  

    As of June 2024, AQNav has logged more than 200 flight hours and 40 sorties across multiple regions of the world on four different aircraft types, ranging in size from single-engine planes to large military transport aircraft. 

    AQNav is a geomagnetic navigation system that uses proprietary artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms, powerful quantum sensors and the Earth’s crustal magnetic field. The system seeks to provide an un-jammable, all-weather, terrain-agnostic, real-time navigation solution in situations where GPS signals are unavailable, denied or spoofed.  

    The system uses extremely sensitive quantum magnetometers to acquire data from Earth’s crustal magnetic field, which exhibits geographically unique patterns – similar to a human fingerprint. AQNav uses AI algorithms to compare this data against known magnetic maps, allowing the system to quickly and accurately find its position. Due to the high sensitivity of quantum sensors, AI algorithms are applied to improve the signal-to-noise ratio, removing any mechanical, electrical or other interference that would impact the system’s ability to acquire its location. 

    It is available globally and can be used in air, land and sea applications. The system does not rely on visual ground features or satellite transmissions to function and is not affected by weather conditions.  

    AQNav operates at room temperature, requires no shielding and has a small form factor that can be integrated into a wide variety of platforms, from multi-engine airliners to UAVs. Its passive technology emits no electronic signals, which reduces the aircraft’s detectability. 

    AQNav seeks to increase useful navigation for aircraft navigating within the frameworks of regulatory bodies such as the International Civil Aviation Organization and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). SandboxAQ and its partners are continuing to explore a broad range of use cases for both commercial and defense applications. 

  • Tualcom introduces PNT solution

    Tualcom introduces PNT solution

    Photo: Tualcom
    Photo: Tualcom

    Tualcom has released TRNAV, a terrestrial navigation solution designed to operate with or without GNSS signals.

    TRNAV establishes a mesh network of ground stations capable of operating independently from GNSS by using precise pre-established locations or connecting to GNSS when available. The system maintains location accuracy comparable to GNSS by connecting to at least three ground stations. Its highly synchronized timing system ensures a minimal drift of 10ns over a week without GNSS.

    The system features a re-synchronization capability that allows the entire network to be updated instantly when just one station reconnects to a GNSS satellite, maintaining high precision across all platforms. Users can integrate mobile stations to enhance network flexibility and range, with the potential to cover distances up to 250km under ideal conditions.

    TRNAV also offers a high-bandwidth communication channel for various data types, which offers extensive communication capabilities within the established network. The system employs AES-256 encryption and advanced waveform technologies, including DSSS/FHSS for robust and secure operations even in challenging environments.

    As GNSS integrity and availability face increasing threats, TRNAV provides a reliable and resilient alternative for assured positioning, navigation and timing (PNT). Whether in defense, emergency response, or critical infrastructure, TRNAV’s adaptable architecture offers seamless and secure navigation and communication.

  • GPR, Rheinmetall Provectus advance localization technology

    GPR, Rheinmetall Provectus advance localization technology

    Provectus HX2: Vehicle example for defense deployment testing of WaveSense.
    Provectus HX2: Vehicle example for defense deployment testing of WaveSense. 

    GPR Ground Positioning Radar, a producer of ground-penetrating radar technology for autonomous vehicle localization, has entered a strategic collaboration with Rheinmetall Provectus, a provider of autonomous navigation solutions.  

     Under the collaboration, GPR will integrate its WaveSense localization system into Rheinmetall Provectus’ autonomous platforms, enhancing positioning and navigation capabilities in GNSS-denied environments. The integration seeks to enable new capabilities such as beyond line of sight (BLOS) and GNSS-denied leader-follower operations. 

     The partnership follows a successful proof of concept (PoC) conducted in rugged terrains in Ontario, Canada, during Q3 and Q4 of 2023. The PoC demonstrated WaveSense technology in GNSS-denied environments, showcasing its potential to improve autonomous navigation in challenging conditions. Both companies have invested significant resources to develop a robust integration of the WaveSense system, ensuring it is ready for deployment. 

  • Iridium expands Satellite Time and Location service to Europe and Asia Pacific

    Iridium expands Satellite Time and Location service to Europe and Asia Pacific

    Image: Iridium
    Image: Iridium

    Iridium Communications has expanded the commercial availability of its Satellite Time and Location (STL) service to parts of Europe and the Asia Pacific. This expansion is driven by increasing demand and aims to provide an alternative positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) solution to protect critical infrastructure against GPS and Galileo spoofing and jamming. 

     The Iridium STL service, capable of operating globally, is designed to ensure the fidelity of timing systems with a signal 1,000 times more powerful than GPS. This makes it particularly suited for indoor use without the need for rooftop antennas, offering a secure and cost-effective solution for sectors such as transportation, energy grids, data centers, telecommunications networks and financial services. 

     The expansion follows a significant rise in GPS jamming and spoofing activities in Europe and parts of Asia, posing serious threats to critical infrastructure. The newly available STL service is designed to help safeguard essential systems and improve operational security and efficiency. 

     The STL solutions are designed to be small, cost-effective and easy to install. These solutions can be integrated into existing GNSS-reliant systems or used as stand-alone units. 

     With the expanded authorization, Iridium STL can now be purchased by companies in North America, parts of Europe and the Asia Pacific region. The company plans to continue scaling and training sales and support staff to further extend the service’s global reach. 

  • Per Vices launches new SDR

    Per Vices launches new SDR

    Photo: Per Vices
    Photo: Per Vices

    Per Vices has released Calamine, its widest tuning range software-defined radio (SDR). Calamine can be integrated into mission-critical systems for the defense, GNSS, communications and test and measurement markets.  

     The SDR builds on the Per Vices existing IP to offer a tuning range from near DC to 40 GHz with four independent receiver radio chains, each offering 300 MSPS sampling bandwidth. 

     The release will offer capabilities extending other SDR systems for government, defense and intelligence communities and civil users with direct applications for radar systems, signals intelligence, spectrum monitoring and satellite communications systems.  

     Per Vices products aim to provide hardware and software solutions to address the growing need for high channel count, wide tuning range and high bandwidth SDRs. The company’s SDRs support various applications within the defense, civil, aerospace, medical, telecommunications, low latency networks, GNSS, radar, test and measurement, spectrum monitoring and broadcasting and wireless management industries.  

  • EAB Q&A: GPS use in US infrastructure, PNT services

    EAB Q&A: GPS use in US infrastructure, PNT services

    GPS vulnerabilities have been widely reported in the press. What steps have been taken to back up GPS use in U.S. critical infrastructure?

    Jules McNeff
    Jules McNeff

    “President Biden on April 30 issued a National Security Memorandum on Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience. GPS plays a vital role in the operation of critical infrastructure, and some sectors are considering their own backups. Other than conducting studies and meetings to admire the problem, the federal government has done virtually nothing to provide a comprehensive answer. In fact, the government is now dismantling the Loran system, though enhanced Loran (eLoran) is a viable and affordable GPS backup, specifically recommended for use by prior U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Department of Homeland Security Deputy Secretaries. Given the vital role PNT and GPS play, it’s a mystery why such a viable solution is simply ignored.”

    — Jules McNeff
    Overlook System Technologies

    Will GPS remain the Gold Standard of space-based PNT services for the foreseeable future?

    “GPS led the emergence and growth of a global space-based PNT service enterprise and has been the Gold Standard since its inception. The U.S. Department of Defense and Air Force (now Space Force) have maintained that standard through stable, transparent, and consistent policies and continuous performance improvements for the services it provides to all users. Now, in the face of foreign competition, hostile threats, budgetary pressures, reorganizations and management fragmentation, dilution of corporate memory, and inconsistent leadership support, those policy and performance foundations are in danger of eroding. The outcome for GPS and its future in the global PNT Enterprise is purely in the hands of our federal leadership today.”

    — Jules McNeff
    Overlook System Technologies

  • Study: GPS disruptions in aviation show importance of backups

    Study: GPS disruptions in aviation show importance of backups

    Photo: Jetlinerimages / E+ / Getty Images
    Photo: Jetlinerimages / E+ / Getty Images

    In a recently released paper, the respected analytics firm London Economics determined that the presence of backup systems at the Denver and Dallas Fort Worth airports prevented any noticeable impacts on air travel despite each having experienced a disruption of GPS signals for 24 hours or more. By contrast, recent GPS interference at an airport without a backup system caused scheduled air service to be canceled until an alternative to GPS was established.

    Also important to the lack of impact at Denver and Dallas was that the signals interfering with GPS, with a few minor exceptions, only impacted aircraft in the air.

    GPS is essential for the safe and efficient movement of aircraft and support vehicles on the ground at airports, as well as the transport of crews, passengers, supplies, and cargo to and from airports, communication systems, and numerous other services.

    Backups needed for both air and ground

    Previous work by London Economics has shown that disruption of GPS for these ground functions would likely cause numerous flight delays and cancellations. Delays in the arrival of flight crews, passengers and supplies, for example, would quickly upset flight schedules. If this happened at a major airport, such as Denver or Dallas Fort Worth, disruptions could ripple through the entire air transport system. Wide-spread delays, cancellations and schedule adjustments would bog down air travel across the nation, if not the world.

    The incident in Denver was caused by an accidental transmission from a government installation on Jan. 21. 2022. It impacted aircraft within approximately 50 nautical miles of the airport and lasted 33 hours before the source was identified and turned off.

    The Dallas incident began on Oct. 17, 2022, and affected aircraft within about 110 nautical miles. It continued for 24 hours before ending on its own. The source has never been identified.

    Reducing aviation backups may be a bad idea

    In addition to recognizing the value of terrestrial navigation systems for aviation, the London Economics paper cautions about moves in the United States and Europe to “rationalize” these systems by reducing their number. In the event of longer or widespread GPS disruptions, the impact of an insufficient number of terrestrial systems could be significant. The cancellation of air service to an airport in Estonia because of chronic GPS jamming is used in the paper as a cautionary tale.

    Instead of reducing the number of old backup systems, London Economics suggests policymakers consider establishing more widely available sources of terrestrial PNT. Taking a fresh look might identify alternative PNT sources for aviation that could also be used by other critical infrastructures. Perhaps even in consumer applications as well.

    U.S. government representatives were approached for consultation and comment for this paper and expressed their willingness to participate. Unfortunately, they were unable to obtain permission to do so.

    London Economics’ work on this effort was commissioned by the Resilient Navigation and Timing Foundation.

    The paper “Aviation GPS Incidents Show Importance of Backup Systems. Policy Makers Take Note.” can be accessed from the foundation’s online library here.

  • BAE Systems unveils anti-jamming GPS receiver

    BAE Systems unveils anti-jamming GPS receiver

    Photo: BAE Systems
    Photo: BAE Systems

    BAE Systems has unveiled NavStorm-M, a gun-hardened integrated anti-jamming GPS receiver for artillery, bombs, missiles and unmanned systems.

    NavStorm-M features a layered protection approach using beamforming, anti-spoofing, resiliency and software assurance. It is an assured positioning, navigation and timing (A-PNT) device featuring M-Code GPS technology.

    The capability is designed to meet the tight size, weight, power and cost (SWaP-C) requirements of unmanned aircraft systems, loitering munitions, hypersonic platforms and other weapons – especially in gun-hardened applications. NavStorm-M offers precise GPS navigation as a stand-alone system or integrated with an inertial navigation system (INS).

    BAE Systems has delivered selective availability anti-spoofing module products to more than 45 countries and has begun delivering M-Code GPS receivers in multiple form factors and levels of capability to the U.S. armed forces and its allies through the Foreign Military Sales program.

  • NAVSYS secures AFRL contract for complementary PNT solution

    NAVSYS secures AFRL contract for complementary PNT solution

    Photo: NAVSYS logoNAVSYS Corporation has secured a $4.4 million contract from the Rapid Architecture Prototyping and Integration Development (RAPID) Laboratory of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). The contract is part of AFRL’s Commercial Alternative Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) for RAPID (CAPR) program, which aims to provide the Department of Defense improved access to reliable and resilient PNT services, particularly in situations where GPS is unavailable or compromised.

    The contract involves developing and maturing NAVSYS’ PNT as a Service (PNTaaS) system architecture. This technology uses existing SATCOM signals for PNT services, utilizing broadband signals outside of the L-band frequencies, which are often subject to jamming. The system employs multiple frequency allocations, including C-band, Ku-band and K-band, to offer high resilience and performance equivalent to GPS.

    Test results previously published by NAVSYS have demonstrated the system’s capability to use satellites operated by Intelsat, Viasat, Eutelsat, SES and Telesat to deliver backup PNT capability to GPS.

  • VectorNav participates in USAF PNT test

    VectorNav participates in USAF PNT test

    VectorNav Technologies has participated in the U.S. Air Force (USAF) NAVFEST 2024 Test Event held May 6-17, 2024. The event was hosted by the 746th Test Squadron at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR).

    NAVFEST provides the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and industry partners the opportunity to test and evaluate products and solutions in real-world GNSS-contested conditions to enhance systems’ robustness and resilience in these environments.

    VectorNav’s evaluated its solutions in GNSS-contested scenarios to continue advancing its capabilities for robust position, navigation and timing (PNT). The VectorNav team tested a variety of systems on both aerial and ground-based platforms and conducted both static and dynamic maneuvers.

    During the event, VectorNav evaluated a variety of its single and dual-antenna GNSS-aided inertial navigation systems (INS) products, including the VN-210, VN-310, VN-210-S, VN-200, VN-300, VN-210E and VN-310E in various configurations. Additionally, these products were tested in combination with a variety of additional PNT systems, including external tactical and navigation grade IMUs, M-Code GPS receivers, anti-jam antennas, commercial L1/L2/L5 GNSS receivers in varied configurations and low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite receivers.

    The data collected from the event are being analyzed to further refine and improve the company’s solutions in GNSS-contested environments.

  • Safran Federal Systems launches navigation warfare simulator

    Safran Federal Systems launches navigation warfare simulator

    Photo: Safran Federal Systems
    Photo: Safran Federal Systems

    Safran Federal Systems has launched the BroadSim Duo, its dual-frequency GNSS simulator designed specifically for testing military receivers in an unclassified environment. 

    The new product integrates dual-frequency capabilities within a single compact GPS military signal testing unit. The simulator has dual-frequency capability, which is essential for testing P-Code and AES-M-Code. It features a new software-defined radio in an M.2 form factor, offering robust and reliable performance. It also seamlessly integrates with the Skydel simulation environment for improved versatility and functionality.