GPS Spoofing Reported Near Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru Airports — What It Is and Why It's a Matter of Concern

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Delhi: The government has recently informed that incidents of spoofing and interference were intercepted near major Indian airports including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Amritsar, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Chennai airports in the last few months.This means that attempts were made to manipulate a user's navigation system by giving false signals using GPS based landing procedures for flights approaching on Runways.In an attempt to thwart these events, contingency procedures were used by the GPS spoofed lights approaching to RWY.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBCDKZF-ucM

Addressing the matter, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said, "Some flights reported GPS spoofing in the vicinity of IGIA, New Delhi while using GPS based landing procedures, while approaching on RWY 10. Contingency procedures were used for GPS spoofed flights approaching to RWY 10."However, "there were no effects on movements of flights, on other runway ends having conventional navigational aids being operational," said.Global Positioning System (GPS) or Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) spoofing or jamming refers to the attempt by unidentified sources who tried to manipulate a user’s navigation system by sending false signals.The government directed Wireless Monitoring Organisation (WMO) to identify the source of spoofing or interference."Airports Authority of India (AAI) has also requested Wireless Monitoring Organisation (WMO) to possibly identify the source of interference/ spoofing," the government said.Speaking in the matter, Civil Aviation Minister said that they conveyed it in a high-level meeting WMO has directed to mobilise more resources to identify the source of spoofing based on approximate spoofing location details shared by DGCA and AAI.After an advisory by the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to report instance of GPS jamming-spoofing since November 2023, reports have been received from various parts of the country regarding spoofing."GNSS interference reports are being received from Kolkata, Amritsar, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Chennai airports," the minister said.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3iRNPceUk4

Why Spoofing Is A Matter of Concern?

Spoofing is a matter of serious concern for ATC, airlines as it involves transmission of fake GPS signals and transmit incorrect navigation data, that can lead to potential system failures and serious safety risks for aircraft.Attempts of GPS spoofing can lead to pilots and onboard systems, causing erroneous warnings, wrong positions and increased pilot workload that can cause diversions, disruptions and even crash if counter agencies and systems fail to intercept them.

What DGCA Advised Pilots, Air Traffic Controllers on GPS Spoofing

The aviation watchdog had earlier asked pilots, Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) to report incidents of spoofing within just 10 minutes of occurrences.Naidu said Minimum Operating Network (MON), consisting of Conventional (Ground-based) Navigation and Surveillance Infrastructure, are retained in accordance with global best practices.India is also participating in global platforms to keep itself abreast of the latest methodology and technology for the timely implementation of the same.To a query, Naidu said the global cybersecurity threats to the aviation sector are in the form of ransomware/ malware."To enhance cyber security against global threats, AAI is implementing advanced cyber security solutions for IT networks and infrastructure. These actions have been taken in accordance with the National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC) and Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) guidelines. Cyber security is ensured by continuous upgradation. As the nature and type of the threat changes, new protective measures are being taken," he added.With inputs from PTI