GPS and GNSS Spoofing Incidents at Indian Airports

Recent reports from the Indian government have highlighted incidents of Global Positioning System (GPS) data manipulation or GPS spoofing affecting flights near the Delhi airport. Similar incidents have been reported from other major Indian airports including Kolkata, Amritsar, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, and Chennai.

Government Response and Measures

• The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued standard operating procedures for real-time reporting of such incidents.
• The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has sought assistance from the Wireless Monitoring Organization (WMO) to detect sources of interference and spoofing.
• WMO is part of the Ministry of Communications and is responsible for spectrum management and ensuring an interference-free spectrum.

Characteristics and Implications of Spoofing

• Spoofing involves the transmission of counterfeit signals that deceive the location signals of aircraft, potentially leading to incorrect computation of their position, timing, and navigation data.
• Interference or jamming typically involves overpowering satellite signals with strong radio interference, posing a threat to aviation safety.

Recent Incidents and Contingency Measures

• In November, several incidents were reported around the Delhi airport, particularly affecting flights using GPS-based landing procedures on Runway 10.
• Contingency procedures were implemented for affected flights, with no impact on flights using conventional navigational aids.

Mandatory Reporting and Global Cooperation

• Since 2023, the DGCA has mandated the reporting of all such incidents, with regular reports being received from major airports in India.
• The DGCA has instructed airlines, pilots, and air traffic controllers to report spoofing incidents within 10 minutes to ensure flight safety.
• India retains a Minimum Operating Network (MON) of conventional navigation and surveillance infrastructure, following global best practices.
• India engages with global platforms to stay updated on the latest methodologies and technologies for timely implementation.

Cybersecurity Measures

• Global cybersecurity threats to the aviation sector include ransomware and malware.
• The AAI is implementing advanced cybersecurity solutions to protect IT networks and infrastructure, following guidelines from the National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC) and Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In).
• Continuous upgrades in cybersecurity measures are being made as the nature of threats evolves.