Attacks on GNSS don’t just affect aircraft systems in flight. They also disrupt ground-based networks, which rely on GNSS for precise timing to keep aviation infrastructure in sync. From air traffic control centers to aircraft surveillance networks, a disruption in timing can quickly create ripple effects that compromise safety, efficiency and costs for airlines and airports.
GNSS cyber threats to aviation safety
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued a new safety bulletin warning of an alarming rise in cyberattacks targeting the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). Since 2022, incidents of GNSS jamming and spoofing have escalated, affecting aircraft navigation and disrupting critical ground-based aviation infrastructure. These attacks disrupt both in-flight positioning and the precise timing essential for air traffic management and airport operations.
GNSS vulnerabilities: More than lost navigation
When people think of GNSS attacks as they relate to aviation, they often picture an aircraft suddenly flying blind. However, the impact extends far beyond the cockpit. GNSS timing ensures seamless synchronization across multiple critical functions, including flight coordination, communication links and airport operations.
GNSS threats generally fall into two categories:
- Jamming does what the name suggests: it’s a signal blocker that floods receivers with noise, rendering GNSS systems ineffective. This form of attack is relatively easy to carry out, with off-the-shelf equipment available to disrupt signals over a wide area.
- Spoofing tricks receivers with false signals, skewing timing and positioning data. Spoofing attacks are more insidious because seemingly valid signals may not be noticed until a great deal of damage has been done.
These attacks can lead to false terrain alerts, misleading aircraft positions and disruptions to surveillance systems. Even after an aircraft leaves an affected area, compromised GNSS signals can continue to cause navigation errors.
Resilient timing is the backbone of modern aviation – without it, positioning and navigation simply don’t work.Why timing is the backbone of PNT
GNSS provides positioning, navigation and timing (PNT). Yet it’s timing that makes “P” and “N” possible. Without precisely synchronized clocks, an aircraft’s location can’t be calculated accurately. More importantly, modern aviation infrastructure relies on flawless timing to:
- Align radar and aircraft surveillance data so multiple sensors can track aircraft positions
- Coordinate airport operations for scheduling, departures and arrivals
- Sync communications between controllers and pilots in real-time
If the timing link fails, all other parts of PNT fall apart, affecting both flight safety and ground operations.
Combatting GNSS attacks on aviation
To safeguard aviation from GNSS threats, the industry must adopt resilient positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) strategies. This includes both assured PNT (aPNT), which strengthens GNSS-dependent infrastructure, and alternative PNT, which provides backup when GNSS is compromised. Advanced timing synchronization platforms, such as those from Oscilloquartz, provide a multi-layered defense against jamming and spoofing. Key strategies include:
- Multi-layer detection: Real-time monitoring at the antenna, receiver and network levels can detect interference
- Multi-source backup: High-grade atomic clocks and advanced synchronization solutions can provide up to 120 days of ultra-precise holdover
- Multi-level fault-tolerant mitigation: End-to-end monitoring solutions, such as the Mosaic Sync Director, allow precise fault detection and rapid response
Strengthening aviation defenses
The EASA bulletin underscores how urgent it is to protect GNSS integrity. That means not just installing fail-safes on planes but also fortifying ground-based networks. By equipping airports, air navigation and surveillance networks with more resilient synchronization platforms, the entire aviation ecosystem gains an extra layer of crucial protection.
Oscilloquartz’s leading assured timing solutions deliver the robust sync backbone needed to safeguard aviation against disruptive GNSS attacks. With the right ground-based defenses in place, we can keep global air traffic moving safely.