GPS is vulnerable to jamming—here’s how we might fix it
The Vulnerability of GPS: A Growing Concern
In September 2025, a Widerøe Airlines flight was attempting to land in Vardø, Norway, a small town situated in the country's far eastern arm, just 40 miles from the Russian coast. The flight was facing a challenging situation, with low cloud cover and poor visibility. In such conditions, pilots rely heavily on GPS technology to navigate safely and avoid obstacles. However, on this particular day, the GPS systems were not functioning correctly, and the airwaves were jammed with signals that prevented the plane from accessing navigation information.
The disruption was attributed to Russia's frequent wargames, which involve simulating conflict as a preparation exercise. The exercise, known as Zapad-2025, was taking place just across the fjord from Vardø, and officials suspected that Russian forces were using GPS-signal-smashing technology to disrupt the navigation systems. This incident highlights the vulnerability of GPS technology to jamming and spoofing, which can have serious consequences for aviation, military operations, and other critical systems.
The Frequency of GPS Disruptions
GPS disruptions are not unique to this incident and are becoming increasingly common. In Norway, officials have noted that GPS disruptions are near-constant, particularly in the region near the Russian border. The Norwegian Communications Authority (Nkom) has detected GPS jammers near hospitals, which could force life-saving helicopters to redirect to a more distant facility. Similarly, emergency responders have warned about how problems might affect emergency beacon devices, such as satellite SOS buttons carried by people in the backcountry or aboard boats.
The issue is not limited to Norway; hotspots of GPS disruptions have been reported in various parts of the world, including Myanmar, the Black Sea, and southern Texas. A report from OpsGroup, a membership organization for international aviation personnel, found a marked increase in spoofing in 2024. By January 2024, an average of 300 flights a day were being spoofed, and by August 2024, this had grown to around 1500 flights per day.
The Consequences of GPS Disruptions
The consequences of GPS disruptions can be severe, particularly in critical systems such as aviation, military operations, and emergency services. In the case of the Widerøe Airlines flight, the disruption forced the plane to abort its landing and continue down the coast to a safer location. This incident highlights the importance of reliable GPS technology in ensuring safe navigation and preventing accidents.
In addition to aviation, GPS disruptions can also affect military operations, where accurate navigation is critical for success. The use of GPS-signal-smashing technology can disrupt the navigation systems of drones, missiles, and other military equipment, potentially leading to accidents or failures.
The Need for Resilient GPS Systems
Given the growing concern about GPS disruptions, there is a need for resilient GPS systems that can withstand jamming and spoofing. The U.S. government has acknowledged the challenges to GPS and is pursuing the integration of alternative capabilities. The Department of Defense is working on its alternative position, navigation, and timing capabilities, and its innovation arms are running challenges to support alternative technologies.
The Department of Transportation has also a strategic plan that includes promoting technologies complementary to GPS. A statement from the FAA noted that the agency is working on a system to detect GPS interference and is working with the Department of Defense on navigation signals and antennas that are more resilient.
Alternative GPS Solutions
Several companies are working on alternative GPS solutions that can provide more resilient and accurate navigation. TrustPoint, a company founded by Patrick Shannon, is developing a new GPS system that incorporates a couple of fundamentals. The company's satellites transmit at a higher frequency and send out an encrypted signal, making it harder to spoof. With traditional GPS, only the military gets encrypted signals.
Xona Space Systems is another company that is working on alternative GPS solutions. The company plans to broadcast signals 100 times stronger than GPS, giving users two-centimeter precision, and making jamming more difficult. The signal also includes a watermark—a kind of authentication that protects against spoofing.
Conclusion
The vulnerability of GPS technology to jamming and spoofing is a growing concern that requires attention from governments, industries, and individuals. The consequences of GPS disruptions can be severe, particularly in critical systems such as aviation, military operations, and emergency services. The need for resilient GPS systems that can withstand jamming and spoofing is becoming increasingly important.
Alternative GPS solutions are being developed by companies such as TrustPoint and Xona Space Systems, which can provide more resilient and accurate navigation. However, the development and implementation of these solutions will require significant investment and coordination among governments, industries, and individuals.
Ultimately, the future of GPS technology will depend on the ability to address the challenges of jamming and spoofing. As the world becomes increasingly dependent on GPS technology, it is essential to ensure that the systems are resilient and can withstand the growing threats.
