OpsGroup Cites 500% Increase in GPS Spoofing, Recommends NaviGuard to Detect Inflight Spoofing Alerts

OpsGroup, a global organization focused on international flight operations, completed a six-week workshop, with over 950 participants, discussing the overall impact of GPS spoofing on flight safety. Representing leaders from all aspects of the aviation industry, the report encompasses technical analysis, flight crew guidance, safety concerns, conclusions and recommendations for combating GPS spoofing. For further details, you can refer to the full GPS Spoofing Final Report [pdf] .

Report Summary Findings

Spoofing incidents surged by 500% in 2024, coinciding with the summer months and increased conflict activities. As winter approaches, worsening weather conditions could amplify the risks associated with spoofed GPS signals. There is also a concern that GPS receivers might appear normal to flight crews while being contaminated with false data, further complicating safe operations. In a survey conducted by the workgroup of 2,000 flight crew members, nearly 70% of respondents voiced concern for GPS spoofing impact as very high or extreme. The report underscores the urgency of addressing GPS spoofing as a significant threat to aviation safety. Continuous industry collaboration, increased awareness, and proactive solutions are vital to mitigating the risks and safeguarding the future of air travel.

NaviGuard, APG’s standalone GPS spoofing tool, is designed to tackle increasing threats of GPS spoofing and jamming in aviation. The standalone anomaly detection and verification application provides real-time monitoring and protection, ensuring safer skies for all.

Key features of NaviGuard include:

• Avoid surprises pre-flight by monitoring the in-app map containing data from EASA highlighting GPS spoofing hotspots.
• Alert with proactive in-app notifications alerts pilots of known danger zones during flights, presenting the option to reroute or proceed with complete awareness of potential hazards.
• Confirm your location by verifying your in-flight GPS coordinates by mapping relative to Navigational Aids (NAVAIDs). This helps to remove uncertainties about the accuracy of your current location.

What is GPS Spoofing?

GPS spoofing is a significant threat to aviation, involving the transmission of falsified GPS signals to mislead navigation systems in aircraft. This phenomenon has intensified dramatically since late 2023, impacting flight safety, aircraft operation, and air traffic control (ATC) systems. As mentioned in our prior blog, What is GPS Spoofing... And How to Avoid It, GPS signal spoofing can interfere with the operations of autonomous vehicles, a wide range of military systems, and aviation navigation systems (avionics). In 2024, an average of 1,500 flights per day were spoofed, with locations like the Eastern Mediterranean, Black Sea, and parts of Asia seeing the highest activity.  

Why is GPS Spoofing Happening?

The primary driver of GPS spoofing incidents is military activity in conflict zones. Spoofing is primarily employed to counteract hostile drones, disrupt GPS-guided munitions, or mislead enemy navigation systems. This practice often inadvertently affects civil aviation, with no evidence suggesting that civilian aircraft are deliberately targeted. Other actors, such as public safety agencies and commercial entities, may also contribute to GPS spoofing in specific contexts, such as during major public events or to manipulate tracking data.

“We often fly over the Middle East during our operations and your app is a great way to double check our position during spoofing attacks, which we experience frequently... Overall I am very pleased by being able to use your app. It is one of the very few tools which are now available to help us during those challenging operations. Thank you!”  

– Jan Z. International Chief Pilot

Where is GPS Spoofing Happening?

Spoofing incidents are concentrated near conflict zones and strategically significant areas:

• Eastern Mediterranean: The Nicosia, Beirut, Tel Aviv, and Cairo Flight Information Regions (FIRs) are highly affected.
• Black Sea and Russia: Increased spoofing activity around the Black Sea, western Russia, and Baltic regions.
• Asia: Areas near the India-Pakistan border and North/South Korea also report significant spoofing incidents.

How Does GPS Spoofing Work?

Spoofing devices broadcast counterfeit GPS signals that overwhelm the legitimate signals used by aircraft systems. These false signals can create numerous issues:

• Navigation errors due to corrupted GPS data.
• Degradation of aircraft systems reliant on GPS, such as the Flight Management System (FMS), Inertial Reference System (IRS), and Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS).
• False or misleading position reports to ATC and other aircraft.
• Increased false alerts and warnings, complicating flight crew decision-making.

Impact on Flight Safety and Operations

The impact of GPS spoofing on flight safety is profound:

• Aircraft Operation and Handling: Spoofing leads to degraded functionality of essential systems. For example, the GPWS may issue false alerts even after GPS coverage is restored, potentially reversing decades of progress in reducing Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) accidents.
• Human Factors and Training: Flight crews face conflicting guidance and insufficient procedures for handling spoofed GPS data, resulting in misunderstandings and errors.
• Air Traffic Control: ATC operations are hampered by unreliable position data from aircraft, increasing the risk of mid-air collisions and airspace incursions.

For more information on FAA and USDOT recommendations, refer to the SAFO 24002 document, which provides information and guidance to operators and manufacturers regarding operations in a GPS/GNSS disrupted environment.

Affected by GPS spoofing during a flight? Report a GPS anomaly to the FAA here.