GPS World

Category: Defense

  • Opinion: The U.S. needs GPS backup and IoT resilience

    Opinion: The U.S. needs GPS backup and IoT resilience

    America’s dependence on GPS is a matter of national security, economic vitality, and daily life. We all agree: the United States must develop strong, resilient alternatives to satellite-based positioning, navigation and timing (PNT). The question, ironically enough, is how to get where we want to go.

    Z-Wave Alliance, whose members build the smart home, security, and automation devices used in millions of homes and buildings, fully supports the federal effort to harden PNT infrastructure. We have been active contributors to the FCC’s Notice of Inquiry (WT 25-110) and the Department of Transportation’s Complementary PNT (CPNT) research program. We have provided and assessed technical data to help identify which terrestrial and space-based solutions can truly coexist with the technologies Americans already use every day.

    A Known Risk

    NextNav has petitioned the FCC to restructure parts of the lower 900 MHzband to host a terrestrial 5G/PNT network—essentially a ground-based GPS complement. The company’s plan would allocate parts of that band for high-power transmissions and relax the long-standing protections that keep low-power (Part 15) devices from destructive interference.

    That same spectrum underpins hundreds of millions of existing systems: connected security sensors, toll-booth readers, smart meters, building automation networks, and the smart home products consumers rely on every day. These devices operate safely and efficiently because the FCC’s Part 15 rules limit interference and prohibit high-power operations in this shared public band.

    Robust technical analysis, most recently the Pericle Communications study commissioned by the Security Industry Association, shows that high-power terrestrial PNT transmissions would block or degrade low-power communications up to 60 percent of the time. In plain terms, that means alarms that fail to trigger, silent sensors, and lost connectivity for devices that safeguard homes, businesses, and infrastructure.

    Evidence indicates these devices could degrade significantly in performance, often to the point of un-usability. Once the band is reclassified, there’s no practical way to “retrofit” the millions of products already deployed. The result would be billions of dollars in stranded hardware, irrecoverable damage to company reputations, and a long, expensive replacement cycle for utilities, business owners, and consumers.

    This isn’t an argument against terrestrial PNT. It’s an argument for evidence-based engineering.

    — Avi Rosenthal

    Multiple Paths to Resilient PNT

    This isn’t an argument against terrestrial PNT. It’s an argument for evidence-based engineering. The Department of Transportation has identified several categories of GPS-complement technologies, including low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite systems, time-over-fiber distribution, map matching/map tracking, and terrestrial RF. NextNav’s 900 MHz concept falls into the fourth category, but it’s only one of many.

    The FCC recognized this when it opened its broad Notice of Inquiry in March 2025 instead of rushing into rulemaking. Other federally funded trials, such as the Broadcast Positioning System developed by NAB and UrsaNav’s eLoran solution, show that terrestrial PNT can be achieved without displacing unlicensed Part 15 devices.

    Engineering redundancy into national infrastructure demands that we test multiple solutions in parallel, not gamble on a single proprietary approach that risks breaking what already works.

    Coexistence Is the Standard, Not the Exception

    Across every modern wireless domain — Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, Z-Wave, LoRa, Wi-SUN — coexistence testing is standard practice. Before a new technology enters a shared spectrum, it must demonstrate that it can live alongside incumbents. NextNav has not done that. Its coexistence claims rely primarily on simulations using optimistic assumptions about device density and duty cycle. Real-world deployments are far denser and far noisier.

    Z-Wave and our industry partners simply ask for what every responsible engineer would: comprehensive, transparent field testing before the FCC alters the rules of a crowded band. That’s not obstructionism: it’s diligence.

    Building Forward, Not Backward

    Our message is simple: the U.S. needs PNT redundancy, but it must be built on coexistence, not displacement.

    America’s connected infrastructure relies on the lower 900 MHz band precisely because it has been open, unlicensed, and reliable. Allowing a single licensee to flood that band with high-power signals would trade resilience for fragility.

    Z-Wave Alliance stands ready to collaborate with the FCC, DOT, and all research participants to ensure the U.S. gets the GPS backup it deserves: one that strengthens, rather than undermines, the technologies that keep Americans safe, secure, and connected every day. To learn more, follow Z-Wave Alliance on LinkedIn and across social platforms: we are committed to keeping the U.S. technology community up-to-date on key proposal developments and opportunities to make their voices heard.

  • The U.S. needs GPS backup and IoT resilience

    The U.S. needs GPS backup and IoT resilience

    America’s dependence on GPS is a matter of national security, economic vitality, and daily life. We all agree: the United States must develop strong, resilient alternatives to satellite-based positioning, navigation and timing (PNT). The question, ironically enough, is how to get where we want to go.

    Z-Wave Alliance, whose members build the smart home, security, and automation devices used in millions of homes and buildings, fully supports the federal effort to harden PNT infrastructure. We have been active contributors to the FCC’s Notice of Inquiry (WT 25-110) and the Department of Transportation’s Complementary PNT (CPNT) research program. We have provided and assessed technical data to help identify which terrestrial and space-based solutions can truly coexist with the technologies Americans already use every day.

    A Known Risk

    NextNav has petitioned the FCC to restructure parts of the lower 900 MHzband to host a terrestrial 5G/PNT network—essentially a ground-based GPS complement. The company’s plan would allocate parts of that band for high-power transmissions and relax the long-standing protections that keep low-power (Part 15) devices from destructive interference.

    That same spectrum underpins hundreds of millions of existing systems: connected security sensors, toll-booth readers, smart meters, building automation networks, and the smart home products consumers rely on every day. These devices operate safely and efficiently because the FCC’s Part 15 rules limit interference and prohibit high-power operations in this shared public band.

    Robust technical analysis, most recently the Pericle Communications study commissioned by the Security Industry Association, shows that high-power terrestrial PNT transmissions would block or degrade low-power communications up to 60 percent of the time. In plain terms, that means alarms that fail to trigger, silent sensors, and lost connectivity for devices that safeguard homes, businesses, and infrastructure.

    Evidence indicates these devices could degrade significantly in performance, often to the point of un-usability. Once the band is reclassified, there’s no practical way to “retrofit” the millions of products already deployed. The result would be billions of dollars in stranded hardware, irrecoverable damage to company reputations, and a long, expensive replacement cycle for utilities, business owners, and consumers.

    This isn’t an argument against terrestrial PNT. It’s an argument for evidence-based engineering.

    — Avi Rosenthal

    Multiple Paths to Resilient PNT

    This isn’t an argument against terrestrial PNT. It’s an argument for evidence-based engineering. The Department of Transportation has identified several categories of GPS-complement technologies, including low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite systems, time-over-fiber distribution, map matching/map tracking, and terrestrial RF. NextNav’s 900 MHz concept falls into the fourth category, but it’s only one of many.

    The FCC recognized this when it opened its broad Notice of Inquiry in March 2025 instead of rushing into rulemaking. Other federally funded trials, such as the Broadcast Positioning System developed by NAB and UrsaNav’s eLoran solution, show that terrestrial PNT can be achieved without displacing unlicensed Part 15 devices.

    Engineering redundancy into national infrastructure demands that we test multiple solutions in parallel, not gamble on a single proprietary approach that risks breaking what already works.

    Coexistence Is the Standard, Not the Exception

    Across every modern wireless domain — Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, Z-Wave, LoRa, Wi-SUN — coexistence testing is standard practice. Before a new technology enters a shared spectrum, it must demonstrate that it can live alongside incumbents. NextNav has not done that. Its coexistence claims rely primarily on simulations using optimistic assumptions about device density and duty cycle. Real-world deployments are far denser and far noisier.

    Z-Wave and our industry partners simply ask for what every responsible engineer would: comprehensive, transparent field testing before the FCC alters the rules of a crowded band. That’s not obstructionism: it’s diligence.

    Building Forward, Not Backward

    Our message is simple: the U.S. needs PNT redundancy, but it must be built on coexistence, not displacement.

    America’s connected infrastructure relies on the lower 900 MHz band precisely because it has been open, unlicensed, and reliable. Allowing a single licensee to flood that band with high-power signals would trade resilience for fragility.

    Z-Wave Alliance stands ready to collaborate with the FCC, DOT, and all research participants to ensure the U.S. gets the GPS backup it deserves: one that strengthens, rather than undermines, the technologies that keep Americans safe, secure, and connected every day. To learn more, follow Z-Wave Alliance on LinkedIn and across social platforms: we are committed to keeping the U.S. technology community up-to-date on key proposal developments and opportunities to make their voices heard.

  • Hexagon to acquire Inertial Sense, strengthening its positioning portfolio

    Hexagon to acquire Inertial Sense, strengthening its positioning portfolio

    Hexagon, a global leader in measurement and positioning technologies, has entered an agreement to acquire Inertial Sense, a provider of tactical-grade global navigation solutions and inertial navigation systems (INS), to strengthen the breadth of its positioning portfolio.

    Inertial Sense’s capabilities seek to complement Hexagon’s assured positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) portfolio, which provides an affordable, high-performance navigation solution to users across aerospace and defense, robotics and UAV industries.

    Inertial Sense has established itself as a trusted provider of high-performance navigation solutions across a wide range of defense and commercial applications, with more than 30,000 inertial systems deployed worldwide. Its patented designs and proprietary technology enable tactical-grade solutions for space-constrained applications, delivering centimeter-level accuracy with a competitive price point.

    “Assured PNT is critical to success of our customers,” said Anders Svensson, president and CEO of Hexagon. “The team at Inertial Sense has developed an impressive array of GNSS+INS solutions which address the assured PNT requirements of our customers and fit seamlessly into our aerospace and defense product portfolio, while also providing opportunities for expansion into robotics and UAV applications.”

    Inertial Sense, headquartered in Utah, is expected to generate revenues of around $5 million in 2025, with strong growth rates and profitability in line with Autonomous Solution’s average levels. Inertial Sense will be reported within Hexagon’s Autonomous Solutions business area. Completion of the transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary conditions and is expected to be finalized in the first half of 2026.

  • PntGuard protects against GNSS spoofing and jamming at sea

    PntGuard protects against GNSS spoofing and jamming at sea

    Tschudi Shipping Company, NAL Research and SGM Technology AS have launched PntGuard, a maritime-security solution that provides pinpoint situational awareness. It supports navigational integrity at a time when GNSS signals can no longer be taken for granted.

    standalone navigational aid independent of all other bridge systems, PntGuard delivers instant alerts the moment a vessel’s position is falsified, providing true position data when other bridge systems are compromised.

    The electronic warfare problem

    Malicious disruption of GNSS signals is increasing for the maritime industry. Attacks can originate from land-based systems, hostile or “dark-fleet” vessels, or even occur opportunistically in congested sea lanes – often without vessel crews ever realising their position has been manipulated.

    Critical scenarios include:

    • Collisions and groundings (especially in low visibility, at night, and in dense traffic zones with risk to life, assets, and the environment)
    • Unintended or manipulated entry into restricted waters
    • Claims of sanctions evasion / calling at ports in sanctioned states
    • ort delays / disruptions to cargo logistics including deviations causing delays, increased fuel consumption, and emissions.
    • Charter disputes and insurance challenges when a vessel appears to have breached compliance boundaries

    Enabled by the Iridium low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network, PntGuard receives a secured PNT signal about 1,000 times more powerful than GNSS and is resilient to jamming and spoofing of those systems. The solution complements a vessel’s navigation feed with accurate situational awareness and immediately alerts the crew to manipulation or interruption, its makers say.

    PntGuard comprises two compact components – an above-deck unit (receiver) that connects to the Iridium PNT service and a below-deck unit (bridge display) that shows both the falsified GPS track and the vessel’s true position on a nautical chart in real time.

    Shore offices can also receive an accurate record of a vessel’s true position at any time – proof that can be shared with charterers or insurers to defend against claims based on false data and safeguarding both revenue and reputation.

    About the PntGuard partnership

    PntGuard has been developed through a collaboration between cross-industry partners Tschudi Shipping Company, NAL Research Corporation and SGM Technology, combining expertise from resilient satellite services, maritime technology and vessel operations.

    Tschudi Shipping Company is a fifth-generation, Norwegian family-owned shipping and logistics group with more than 100 years of history of owning and managing ships. Focusing on client value through tailored solutions, strong partnerships, digital innovation, Tschudi’s core values are commitment, respect, and proactivity.

    NAL Research Corporation, based in Virginia, USA, is a leader in Assured Positioning, Navigation and Timing (APNT) technologies, providing secure, resilient communications and tracking solutions for defence, government and enterprise customers operating in GPS-denied environments.

    SGM Technology, headquartered in Oslo, Norway, develops advanced satellite-based digital and compliance systems for the maritime and fisheries sectors, delivering innovative, field-proven solutions that enhance operational safety, transparency and efficiency at sea.

  • Helpful techniques to mitigate the effect of GPS jamming and spoofing

    Helpful techniques to mitigate the effect of GPS jamming and spoofing

    U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) figures show incidences of GPS signal interference, such as jamming and spoofing, have increased significantly in both North America and much of Western Europe. Both commercial and military operations are affected, and ADS-B reports from Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) cite up to 700 global GPS spoofing and jamming incidents taking place daily.

    Events are particularly concentrated around war zones, with Lithuanian airspace alone recording more than 300 cases of GPS interference in March. The consequences have ranged from emergency diversions of civilian aircraft to, in at least one case, the downing of an aircraft. Other sectors reliant on precise timing and geolocation, such as communications and emergency services, also are being impacted.

    Of course, it’s not just navigation; and a swath of industries rely on PNT signals. This includes secure and regulatory-compliant financial transactions, power grid synchronization, asset tracking, ensuring data integrity and coordinating workloads across global telecommunications and artificial intelligence (AI) servers.

    How can PNT systems be made more resilient to this interference? What emerging technologies enable PNT systems to maintain operational capability in GPS/GNSS-denied, degraded or disrupted space operational environments (D3SOE)?

    Interference Techniques

    GPS interference comes in a wide variety of forms, and systems are susceptible because the signals from the satellites are faint by the time they reach the Earth.

    Jamming is a brute force denial of service (DoS) attack, with a device transmitting a signal on the same L1 (1575 MHz), L2 (1227 MHz) or other relevant bands as the PNT satellites. Being nearer and stronger, these signals drown out the GPS information and prevent the ability to calculate a position, simply making GPS services unavailable.

    Conversely, spoofing is a more sophisticated technique that mimics the structure of an authentic satellite signal but transmits falsified timing and positioning data. Similar to jamming, this relies on the spoofed signal being closer and more powerful than the legitimate PNT transmission and can either trick the navigation system into believing it is suddenly in a different position, or alter it slowly over time causing, for example, a ship or aircraft to deviate into an unsafe location.

    These DoS and deception techniques are the major classes, but in addition to natural and accidental man-made sources, there also are multiple variations on spoofing techniques and methodologies:

    Meaconing: Rebroadcasting of an authentic signal with a delay and shift in position to affect navigation systems.

    Replay attacks: Like meaconing, but more targeted to financial transactions, fooling GPS-based time-stamping systems into accepting fraudulent transactions.

    Data-level manipulation: Where false orbital data, clock corrections and GPS time is given in addition to the location data. These tend to be harder to detect and cause slow changes. They also can be applied to systems that rely on precise timing, such as financial networks and power grids.

    PNT Resilience

    PNT resilience standards are set out in the draft IEEE P1952 standard, which specifies technical requirements and expected behaviors for resilient PNT user equipment.

    End users can test five behavior levels, which are defined within this standard to enable users to select a level that is appropriate based on their risk tolerance, budget and application criticality.

    Photo: PNT Resilience Levels
    Photo: PNT Resilience Levels

    Level 1 represents a basic ability to detect interference such as jamming, spoofing, or other disruptions, and alert users. Level 2 enables equipment to automatically recover to normal operation when the disruption is no longer present. In level 3, the equipment can maintain acceptable performance during the disruption. This capability is fortified in level 4 by leveraging multiple diverse sources or advanced mitigation techniques. Finally, level 5 enables the equipment to verify that the time or PNT information received is accurate.

    Here in the U.S., the NIST 8323.1 Cybersecurity Framework for PNT also offers a comprehensive approach to assessing and mitigating PNT-specific cybersecurity risks. The DHS’ Resilient PNT Conformance Framework and CISA Federal PNT Services Acquisition Guidance are additionally important.

    Countering Jamming

    Traditional PNT systems are struggling to keep pace and meeting IEEE P1952 to tackle GPS interference requires a sophisticated, multi-source zero-trust architecture that never trusts, always verifies and authenticates, and goes beyond simple signal reception. For mission-critical systems, not only do threats need to be detected, but incoming data need to be validated and alternative sources for PNT incorporated, all within an intelligent sensor fusion system.

    If we look first at the DoS jamming technique, here the issue is an inability to detect the medium-Earth orbit (MEO) GPS/GNSS signal in the presence of another more powerful signal.

    It is possible, however, to reinforce L-band communications from GPS satellites, and look to stronger signals, notably from low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. While these have less accuracy for timing (GPS/GNSS: <15 ns vs 80 ns for LEO), they are significantly stronger (the Iridium LEO STL signal is 1000x stronger than GNSS) and are more resistant to jamming.

    Countering Spoofing

    In spoofing, the use of encrypted signals is vital.

    GPS signals are open, unencrypted and should not be trusted blindly, and the use of alternative cryptographically secured alternatives is essential to ensure the signal’s origin is legitimate. For example, this is implemented on both the Inmarsat GEO and Iridium LEO satellites used in VIAVI’s SecurePNT and SecureTime services.

    Sensor fusion also should be implemented to combine PNT data with information coming from onboard sensors such as inertial measurement units (IMUs) to identify inconsistencies — not just sudden large jumps but continual slight deviations.

    Beyond these, navigation message authentication can be implemented, using a public key to verify the satellite-broadcast signature and prove the location, clock corrections and status being transmitted. This is already implemented by Europe’s Galileo Open Service Navigation Message Authentication (OSNMA) and makes it very difficult to data-level spoof these satellites.

    While using receiver autonomous integrity monitoring (RAIM) techniques, calculate position with redundant satellites, excluding one satellite each time to check for consistency of results. ARAIM (advanced RAIM) uses the same technique, but applies it to multiple constellations, for example, GPS and Galileo.

    Signal liveliness/consistency checks can be particularly effective against meaconing and replay attacks. These techniques examine the Doppler shift of the signal, with satellites having predictable and specific profiles that will differ significantly when compared to a ground-transmitted signal, which will have a near-zero Doppler shift.

    Operating Under D3SOE

    The above is a summary of the types of techniques that underpin VIAVI’s SecurePNT and SecureTime services.

    SecureTime eGNSS GEO uses an encrypted L-band signal, transmitted from Inmarsat’s GEO satellites to create an enhanced timing service with GNSS authentication and anti-spoofing capabilities and provides sub-5 ns timing accuracy when installed on SecurePNT products.

    Conversely, the SecurePNT systems implement multi-source receivers for GNSS backup and multi-band GNSS with GEO-L for outdoor antennas. The PTP grandmaster uses the latest sub-microsecond accuracy PTP protocol and the traditional millisecond range accuracy Network Time Protocol (NTP) to be compatible with virtually all standard IT equipment — also implementing high-speed 25G PTP Ethernet for connection to high-performance AI data center and AI-RAN networks and financial exchanges without creating bottlenecks.

    Terrestrial sources, such as a network PTP feed and an optional atomic caesium clock, also can be used for synchronization to increase resilience in the event of a prolonged GPS outage. Nino De Falcis is an experienced business development leader with a strong background in the Global PNT market. Currently serving as the senior director of Global PNT Business Development at VIAVI Solutions since January 2024, he focuses on accelerating global business development and identifying growth opportunities.

  • Pathfinder provides signal-resilient autonomy in navigation

    Pathfinder provides signal-resilient autonomy in navigation

    Aero Drop Systems (ADS) has developed Pathfinder, a proprietary autonomous navigation framework designed to reduce dependence on GNSS-based positioning. Pathfinder is signal-resilient, capable of maintaining precision even in complete GNSS dead zones and unaffected by deceptive interference.

    At the core of Pathfinder lies an array of sensors and advanced self-regulating logic driven by machine learning. Unlike traditional systems that treat GPS as a singular source of truth, Pathfinder fuses a constant stream of information from multiple internal and external domains and dynamically rebalances itself in real time as it evaluates, cross-verifies, and refines its positional understanding based on an algorithm that classifies the trustworthiness of each data stream.

    The result is a self-correcting navigation intelligence that can anticipate changing conditions, isolate false data, and continue to perform when other systems cannot. This allows Pathfinder to sustain highly accurate navigation during satellite connection or radio frequency outages or when being targeted with jamming or spoofing.

    Designed as a modular framework, Pathfinder can be integrated across a range of fully autonomous platforms operating on land, at sea, or in the air. Its flexible architecture makes it suitable for both commercial logistics and defense applications, where navigation integrity is critical to mission success.

    Currently in the testing phase, Pathfinder is part of ADS’s broader initiative to develop resilient, autonomous logistics technologies capable of performing in contested and complex environments. ADS has confirmed that Pathfinder will serve as the core navigation technology for the platform Aerocrate. Aerocrate is a disposable, autonomous aerial delivery system that enables precise, reliable resupply without requiring recovery operations, staging areas, or active communication with the platform.

  • Adtran launches Galileo OSNMA authentication for Oscilloquartz

    Adtran launches Galileo OSNMA authentication for Oscilloquartz

    Adtran‘s Oscilloquartz synchronization platforms now support Galileo’s Open Service Navigation Message Authentication (OSNMA). OSNMA is a GNSS authentication service designed for civilian use.

    By verifying that timing data originates from genuine Galileo satellites, OSNMA ensures authenticity and integrity at the point of reception. The new feature, available via firmware update for supported multi-band GNSS receivers, adds an extra layer of protection against spoofing and manipulation, empowering existing deployments to strengthen security without hardware changes or service disruption.

    OSNMA support from Adtran brings a new level of GNSS security to critical infrastructure. Available for multi-band GNSS receivers in the OSA 5412, OSA 5422, OSA 5430 and OSA 5440 product lines, the feature integrates with Galileo’s Open Service, using digital signatures and TESLA chain keys to authenticate navigation data. This ensures that timing and positioning information is verified as authentic and protected against spoofing or manipulation.

    Adtran’s Oscilloquartz Syncjack probing adds a second layer of defense, detecting record-and-replay attacks – also known as meaconing – by comparing GNSS signals against trusted PTP sources. This dual-layer approach helps identify subtle timing manipulations and delay attacks that traditional receivers may miss.

    “From 5G and smart power grids to financial networks and data centers, bringing authentication to GNSS is a game changer for critical infrastructure,” said Gil Biran, GM of Oscilloquartz, Adtran. “By enabling our customers to defend against sophisticated threats, including meaconing, we’re helping them achieve greater timing integrity for their networks. Existing customers can access this new GNSS security feature with a simple firmware update, helping them stay protected as threats continue to evolve.”

  • Safran’s Skydel NAVWAR strengthens national defense and airspace sovereignty

    Safran’s Skydel NAVWAR strengthens national defense and airspace sovereignty

    Safran Electronics & Defense had unveiled Skydel NAVWAR, a software solution designed to protect against hostile UAVs by disrupting their navigation systems.

    As the core of Safran’s counter-UAV (C-UAV) systems, Skydel NAVWAR disrupts UAV navigation by simulating authentic GNSS signals, providing nations and organizations with advanced protection for their most critical assets.

    Skydel NAVWAR can be deployed on tactical platforms and integrated with sensors and command-and-control systems, allowing operators to conduct remote spoofing operations without being physically present at the target location.

    “Protecting national sovereignty requires more than just technology — it demands trusted systems that empower countries to take control of their own security,” said Maxime Gorlier, director of positioning, navigation and timing at Safran Electronics & Defense. “With Skydel NAVWAR, we are giving our partners the capability to safeguard their airspace, defend critical infrastructure and ensure resilience in the face of evolving threats.”

    The system features a secure application programming interface, hardened operating system and field-tested durability designed for demanding operational conditions. It supports all major global navigation satellite systems, including GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, BeiDou, NavIC, QZSS and space-based augmentation systems, as well as emerging low-Earth orbit (LEO) signals.

    The software can simulate thousands of satellites in real time using commercial off-the-shelf hardware and operates at a 1,000 Hz iteration rate.

    Safran designed the system to enable defense integrators to build sovereign anti-drone capabilities, enhancing national autonomy in countering UAV threats.

  • European Commission proposes expanding defensive drone wall

    European Commission proposes expanding defensive drone wall

    The European Commission plans to expand its drone wall on Europe’s eastern borders because some regions said they felt left out after an initial “wall”, reports Reuters. The idea is to counter drone incursions with a network of sensors, electronic jamming systems and weapons stretching from the Baltic states to the Black Sea.

    The European Drone Defence Initiative proposal is included in the commission’s Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030 issued Oct. 16. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed the drone wall after 20 Russian drones entered the airspace of EU and NATO member Poland in September.

    Eastern European states welcomed her proposal, but countries in southern and western Europe said it neglected drone threats in their part of the continent.

  • SeRo Systems offers integrated air and ground GNSS interference monitoring

    SeRo Systems offers integrated air and ground GNSS interference monitoring

    Combines airborne and ground-based GNSS interference monitoring in a single integrated system for unified situational awareness.

    SeRo Systems, a leader in air traffic surveillance security and monitoring solutions, has introduced a new ground-monitoring capability to its SecureTrack solution, enabling unified air- and ground-based detection of GNSS interference, including jamming and spoofing. This comprehensive feature delivers real-time detection, analysis and visualization of jamming and spoofing activity across all GNSS frequency bands and constellations in a single integrated solution.

    Compliant with the latest EASA and ICAO monitoring recommendations, it also offers data archival and analytics capabilities for detailed reporting. The company started rolling out this feature to users in Eastern Europe and the Baltics in mid-October.

    Designed for use by Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs), airport operators, spectrum regulators and other government agencies, this capability uses a dedicated and controlled deployment of SeRo’s GRX receivers to display continuous, high-resolution power spectral density data (spectrogram) covering an RF band over 318 MHz wide.

    Through advanced spectrum visualization and data aggregation, users gain valuable insights into the spectral fingerprint, enabling them to identify when interference occurs, which frequencies are affected, and distinguish between unintentional interference and targeted attacks.

    “With this release, our customers get the highest level of protection a single system can provide,” said Matthias Schäfer, CEO of SeRo Systems. “Until now, authorities had to rely on fragmented data from different systems to monitor air and ground operations. SecureTrack now provides a unified view of live and historical GNSS interference activity in an easy-to-use interface for faster incident detection and improved system integrity. This offers an intuitive and efficient way to visualize complex RF spectrum and signal data collected by our sensors in areas that are critical to GNSS operations. It’s the perfect solution for ANSPs, airport operators, and spectrum regulators who need comprehensive situational awareness in a single integrated tool.”

    With the system’s new continuous ground monitoring functions, users can view live spectrum activity or perform historical analysis over customizable time ranges. Data is displayed on intuitive waterfall and line charts that show signal amplitude over time, with color-coded intensity scales that make jamming and spoofing events immediately visible.

    Its upcoming automatic alerting feature will provide real-time warnings of potential jamming or spoofing incidents by detecting unexpected positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) signals as well as anomalous spectrum activity.

    The integrated Sky Plot offers additional insight into satellite positioning and antenna performance, helping users optimize installation geometry and, in the event of spoofing, understand which satellites and constellations are affected.

  • FreeGNSSNetwork: Sateliot launches project with ESA to break GNSS dependency

    FreeGNSSNetwork: Sateliot launches project with ESA to break GNSS dependency

    Sateliot, a leading satellite telecommunications operator in 5G IoT connectivity, will test a pioneering system that allows its satellites to connect with IoT devices without relying on GNSS. The breakthrough opens new opportunities in sectors such as defense and security, where Europe’s technological autonomy and operation in GNSS-denied environments are strategic priorities.

    Low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations, such as the one developed by Sateliot, provide coverage in areas beyond the reach of terrestrial networks — over half of the planet’s surface. However, until now, they depended on GNSS, increasing both the energy consumption of devices and terminal costs.

    The FreeGNSSNetwork project, signed with the European Space Agency (ESA) and led jointly with GMV, eliminates this dependency using advanced algorithms that enable devices to calculate their position directly from the satellites’ signals. This maintains a stable and accurate connection even under complex conditions such as wartime scenarios.

    According to the company, this project represents a paradigm shift and lays the groundwork for developing 6G technology, in which Sateliot actively contributes within the 3GPP framework.

    The FreeGNSSNetwork enables device positioning with an accuracy of approximately 10 meters and provides extremely precise time synchronization services of 50 nanoseconds, the equivalent of 0.00000005 seconds.

    The system is being tested in laboratories that replicate real satellite communication conditions and will be demonstrated in orbit with prototype satellites and terminals, sending positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) data directly to IoT devices.

  • Locus Lock teams with General Dynamics on software-defined PNT for U.S. Army

    Locus Lock teams with General Dynamics on software-defined PNT for U.S. Army

    Locus Lock, a leader in software-defined GNSS technology for precise position, navigation and timing (PNT) solutions, has teamed up with General Dynamics Mission Systems to deliver software-defined precise PNT capabilities for the U.S. Army. 

    General Dynamics Mission Systems, a provider of mission-critical solutions to defense, intelligence, and cyber-security customers across all domains, brings extensive expertise in mission-critical systems integration to ensure seamless deployment across Army platforms.

    Locus Lock’s software-defined GNSS technology enables rapid deployment and procurement of advanced multi-frequency, multi-constellation GNSS capabilities, providing essential signal diversity in contested radiofrequency (RF) environments to advance the Army’s modernization objectives. 

    The collaboration with Locus Lock and General Dynamics enhances the resilience, precision and reliability of Army navigation systems operating in complex and contested environments.