Background
Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) has become an emerging threat to aviation safety. GNSSs are operated by different countries and include Galileo (EU), GLONASS (Russia), Beidou (China), and GPS (US). Throughout the world, aircraft depend mostly on GPS for real-time positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT), and disruptions can lead to missing or inaccurate aircraft location reporting and can render critical systems onboard the aircraft unusable. This puts the security and safety of the global airspace at risk.
GNSS jamming and spoofing affect communications, navigation, and surveillance systems, posing risks to both commercial and military aviation. Jamming blocks the radio frequency spectrum used by GPS and other GNSS, disrupting high-precision navigation and ADS-B-based surveillance. Spoofing presents even greater challenges, as it causes onboard navigation sensors to report false position and timing data, which is then fed into many other systems onboard the aircraft and on the ground. Over the last few years, GNSS RFI incidents have increased significantly, exposing the vulnerability of European airspace, particularly in Central Europe and the Baltics.
As GNSS interference incidents increase, Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) and regulators face a complex environment for monitoring and managing their airspace. Air traffic is subject to a range of GNSS interference sources, from small-scale local jammers to complex spoofing techniques that undermine the integrity of navigation and surveillance systems.
Since 2022, SeRo has worked closely with ANSPs, spectrum regulators, and other government agencies to deploy its real-time GNSS RFI detection and monitoring solution across the Baltics and European airspace.
Background
Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) has become an emerging threat to aviation safety. GNSSs are operated by different countries and include Galileo (EU), GLONASS (Russia), Beidou (China), and GPS (US). Throughout the world, aircraft depend mostly on GPS for real-time positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT), and disruptions can lead to missing or inaccurate aircraft location reporting and can render critical systems onboard the aircraft unusable. This puts the security and safety of the global airspace at risk.
GNSS jamming and spoofing affect communications, navigation, and surveillance systems, posing risks to both commercial and military aviation. Jamming blocks the radio frequency spectrum used by GPS and other GNSS, disrupting high-precision navigation and ADS-B-based surveillance. Spoofing presents even greater challenges, as it causes onboard navigation sensors to report false position and timing data, which is then fed into many other systems onboard the aircraft and on the ground. Over the last few years, GNSS RFI incidents have increased significantly, exposing the vulnerability of European airspace, particularly in Central Europe and the Baltics.
As GNSS interference incidents increase, Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) and regulators face a complex environment for monitoring and managing their airspace. Air traffic is subject to a range of GNSS interference sources, from small-scale local jammers to complex spoofing techniques that undermine the integrity of navigation and surveillance systems.
The Challenge
The landscape of GNSS interference has evolved significantly. Since mid-2023, SeRo’s systems have observed that jamming and spoofing incidents occurred daily, though these interference sources appear and disappear frequently, creating a dynamic and unpredictable environment. This situation requires highly accurate and responsive real-time monitoring and detection systems. However, traditional detection methods can be limited in their ability to detect, localize, and characterize such interference effectively.
Many authorities currently rely on pilot reports to detect and monitor interference, but with reporting rates as low as 5-15%*, this method is unreliable, slow, and tedious. Additionally, most monitoring systems rely on ground-based interference sensors, limiting their detection range to fixed locations. This makes them unable to observe interference in the airspace, limiting their ability to detect GPS interference that affects airborne traffic.
Space-based monitoring via satellites presents an alternative to ground-based systems, offering broader in-airspace coverage. However, these systems are expensive to build and operate and are often limited to targeted military use due to their high costs and long revisit times (typically 20 minutes or more). As a result, most civilian monitoring remains dependent on ground-based systems, which lack the range, reactivity, and adaptability needed in today’s dynamic interference environment.
The European airspace presents unique operational challenges, with high-density traffic, diverse regulatory frameworks, and geopolitical borders near some interference hotspots. GNSS RFI patterns in these areas exhibit erratic on-and-off cycling behavior with unpredictable patterns that complicate detection, localization and mitigation efforts. This dynamic and challenging environment requires an innovative approach to detect, classify, and localize interference in real time and with high precision.
*based on customer data
The Challenge
The landscape of GNSS interference has evolved significantly. Since mid-2023, SeRo’s systems have observed that jamming and spoofing incidents occurred daily, though these interference sources appear and disappear frequently, creating a dynamic and unpredictable environment. This situation requires highly accurate and responsive real-time monitoring and detection systems. However, traditional detection methods can be limited in their ability to detect, localize, and characterize such interference effectively.
Many authorities currently rely on pilot reports to detect and monitor interference, but with reporting rates as low as 5-15%*, this method is unreliable, slow, and tedious. Additionally, most monitoring systems rely on ground-based interference sensors, limiting their detection range to fixed locations. This makes them unable to observe interference in the airspace, limiting their ability to detect GPS interference that affects airborne traffic.
Space-based monitoring via satellites presents an alternative to ground-based systems, offering broader in-airspace coverage. However, these systems are expensive to build and operate and are often limited to targeted military use due to their high costs and long revisit times (typically 20 minutes or more). As a result, most civilian monitoring remains dependent on ground-based systems, which lack the range, reactivity, and adaptability needed in today’s dynamic interference environment.
The European airspace presents unique operational challenges, with high-density traffic, diverse regulatory frameworks, and geopolitical borders near some interference hotspots. GNSS RFI patterns in these areas exhibit erratic on-and-off cycling behavior with unpredictable patterns that complicate detection, localization and mitigation efforts. This dynamic and challenging environment requires an innovative approach to detect, classify, and localize interference in real time and with high precision.
*based on customer data
Our Solution
SeRo’s advanced technology detects jamming and spoofing in the airspace and helps perform detailed analysis of incidents. Since 2022, SeRo has worked closely with ANSPs, spectrum regulators, and other government agencies to deploy its real-time GNSS RFI detection and monitoring solution across the Baltics and European airspace. By leveraging SeRo’s advanced receiver technology and proven proprietary detection algorithms, the company has developed robust insights into interference trends and patterns to combat the impact of GNSS threats.
SeRo's GNSS RFI solution integrates its advanced GRX receiver and SecureTrack software. SecureTrack uses aircraft’s existing ADS-B signals to continuously monitor air traffic in the coverage area. It allows users to identify, in real time, when aircraft experience GPS jamming and spoofing, and pinpoint the impacted geographic areas. The system reports anomalies based on ADS-B data and uses FDOA, TDOA, and multilateration (MLAT) techniques to detect and pinpoint spoofing incidents. It also distinguishes the accurate aircraft positions from false ones created by spoofed signals. This scalable system can be rapidly deployed – with installation times as low as six weeks – giving customers the real-time data access and analysis needed to detect, locate, and respond to interference events quickly.
Our Solution
SeRo’s advanced technology detects jamming and spoofing in the airspace and helps perform detailed analysis of incidents. Since 2022, SeRo has worked closely with ANSPs, spectrum regulators, and other government agencies to deploy its real-time GNSS RFI detection and monitoring solution across the Baltics and European airspace. By leveraging SeRo’s advanced receiver technology and proven proprietary detection algorithms, the company has developed robust insights into interference trends and patterns to combat the impact of GNSS threats.
SeRo's GNSS RFI solution integrates its advanced GRX receiver and SecureTrack software. SecureTrack uses aircraft’s existing ADS-B signals to continuously monitor air traffic in the coverage area. It allows users to identify, in real time, when aircraft experience GPS jamming and spoofing, and pinpoint the impacted geographic areas. The system reports anomalies based on ADS-B data and uses FDOA, TDOA, and multilateration (MLAT) techniques to detect and pinpoint spoofing incidents. It also distinguishes the accurate aircraft positions from false ones created by spoofed signals. This scalable system can be rapidly deployed – with installation times as low as six weeks – giving customers the real-time data access and analysis needed to detect, locate, and respond to interference events quickly.
Key Insights on Jamming
SeRo’s receiver network in the Baltics and Central Europe has compiled an extensive dataset on GNSS RFI patterns and escalation. Over the last three years, SecureTrack has delivered substantial insights into the nature, frequency, and impact of GPS jamming and spoofing across the region— highlighting both the scale of the problem and specific interference patterns. The resulting analysis has been critical not only for immediate incident detection but also for incident investigations, reporting and identifying long-term trends. Notably, these incidents have become more sophisticated, with a dramatic increase in spoofing and the use of high-power jamming systems. The rise in these threats shows the need for robust, long-term solutions to address the evolving GNSS RFI landscape and protect critical infrastructure.
Daily Jamming Incidents: Data from the last two years show a clear upward trend in both the frequency and severity of GNSS interference. In prior years, large-scale jamming incidents were sporadic events, occurring every few months. However, since June 2023, GPS jamming has been detected every day, disrupting GPS and impacting air navigation and surveillance. The scale of this disruption intensified again in February 2024 – creating GPS-denied airspaces with round-the-clock jamming affecting more airspace than ever before. The jamming signals detected often vary in intensity, range, and impacted airspace. In certain areas, the interference affects GNSS frequencies within the upper L-band (L1, E1, G1) and the lower L-band (L5, E5, G3), both of which are critical for satellite-based PNT. The interference often impacts not only GPS but other GNSS as well, increasing the risk of widespread disruption. In high-traffic regions, even brief interruptions in GNSS reliability can have a negative impact on aviation safety, operations, and airspace capacity. This persistent jamming highlights the need for continuous monitoring and rapid response mechanisms to maintain airspace security, safety, and efficiency.
Spoofing Activity
Spoofing incidents have also escalated significantly, with near-daily occurrences since December 2023. A spoofing method known as “circle spoofing” was identified beginning near Smolensk, Russia, where false GPS signals create simulated circular flight paths with a 1-kilometer radius. Since mid-December, thousands of flights have been impacted by this spoofer alone. In recent months, the number of circle spoofing areas has increased to more than thirteen individual circles throughout the region.
The data and pilot reports show that the impact of spoofing on avionics systems is significantly more severe than that of jamming because it undermines the integrity of onboard sensor data. This causes avionics, surveillance, and critical safety systems, such as TAWS, to report incorrect information rendering these systems unreliable.
Spoofing Activity
Spoofing incidents have also escalated significantly, with near-daily occurrences since December 2023. A spoofing method known as “circle spoofing” was identified beginning near Smolensk, Russia, where false GPS signals create simulated circular flight paths with a 1-kilometer radius. Since mid-December, thousands of flights have been impacted by this spoofer alone. In recent months, the number of circle spoofing areas has increased to more than thirteen individual circles throughout the region.
The data and pilot reports show that the impact of spoofing on avionics systems is significantly more severe than that of jamming because it undermines the integrity of onboard sensor data. This causes avionics, surveillance, and critical safety systems, such as TAWS, to report incorrect information rendering these systems unreliable.
Innovative Localization Methods
Leveraging the data from these incidents, SeRo developed a novel localization method. By analyzing ADS-B data, this approach reconstructs the jammer’s radio horizon, pinpointing interference sources with an accuracy of tens of kilometers. Through dynamic clustering of signal anomalies and pattern recognition, the system creates real-time, adaptable interference maps with a clear view of active and emerging interference zones. This innovative method gives stakeholders, such as ANSPs and spectrum regulators, the ability to identify jammer locations.
Dynamic Threat Environment: Certain European Flight Information Regions (FIRs) have experienced extremely concentrated jamming incidents of a recurring nature over the past year. Insights from SeRo’s localization method, coupled with the static nature of events, suggest that interference sources are largely infrastructure-based, operating from fixed locations. Despite their fixed nature, these jammers display intermittent activity with some cycling on and off unpredictably. This pattern requires advanced monitoring and localization techniques to map out these jamming and spoofing events accurately.
These insights, based on SeRo’s ongoing partnerships with ANSPs and spectrum regulators, deliver a heightened level of situational awareness, allowing customers to assess risks, respond rapidly, and better prepare for future disruptions. Moving forward, SeRo is committed to strengthening and expanding its relationships with ANSPs and government organizations to offer an effective, scalable solution for improved GNSS RFI detection and analysis.
Innovative Localization Methods
Leveraging the data from these incidents, SeRo developed a novel localization method. By analyzing ADS-B data, this approach reconstructs the jammer’s radio horizon, pinpointing interference sources with an accuracy of tens of kilometers. Through dynamic clustering of signal anomalies and pattern recognition, the system creates real-time, adaptable interference maps with a clear view of active and emerging interference zones. This innovative method gives stakeholders, such as ANSPs and spectrum regulators, the ability to identify jammer locations.
Dynamic Threat Environment: Certain European Flight Information Regions (FIRs) have experienced extremely concentrated jamming incidents of a recurring nature over the past year. Insights from SeRo’s localization method, coupled with the static nature of events, suggest that interference sources are largely infrastructure-based, operating from fixed locations. Despite their fixed nature, these jammers display intermittent activity with some cycling on and off unpredictably. This pattern requires advanced monitoring and localization techniques to map out these jamming and spoofing events accurately.
These insights, based on SeRo’s ongoing partnerships with ANSPs and spectrum regulators, deliver a heightened level of situational awareness, allowing customers to assess risks, respond rapidly, and better prepare for future disruptions. Moving forward, SeRo is committed to strengthening and expanding its relationships with ANSPs and government organizations to offer an effective, scalable solution for improved GNSS RFI detection and analysis.
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