Image: Army Futures Command
Blog Editor’s Note: OK, this GPS World article is a bit of an ad for Hexagon/NovaAtel. And, full disclosure, they are one of our members/supporters.
That said, the article raises several important points:
- The war in Ukraine has heightened everyone’s awareness of GPS’s vulnerabilities.
- There is equipment, like the Hexagon gear described in the article, that can make receivers a lot more resilient to interference.
- The article discusses assured PNT or “APNT.” If you read carefully you will notice Hexagon/NovAtel saying they are offering “resilience-building capabilities” toward the goal of assured PNT. Not APNT itself.
We have heard a lot of discussion recently about the “toughening receivers” part of the PTA (Protect frequencies, Toughen receivers, and Augment with other signals, paradigm for getting users closer to assured PNT. This article is another contribution to that discussion.
Lots of issues related to C-SWAP (cost, size, weight, and performance) for users to work through. Still, a necessary and worthwhile effort.
Keeping up with jamming, spoofing threats
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We asked Dean Kemp, Ph.D., director of Marketing, Aerospace and Defense for Hexagon’s Autonomy & Positioning division, a few questions.
How do jamming and spoofing threats change?
Jamming and spoofing methods change as new interference-causing technologies become available. As such, it’s vital for us to continuously evaluate potential sources of threats and provide the highest possible level of resiliency to interference in our solutions.
Have new threats emerged in the past six weeks in connection with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine?
Evidence is emerging that electronic-warfare systems capable of high-power jamming and spoofing across wide areas are being used within Ukraine. Fortunately, there have been no known impacts on allied forces. However, knowing that the technology is in place and in use highlights the importance of assured positioning, navigation and timing (APNT) and our contribution to building resiliency in allied forces’ equipment against the potentially destabilizing effects of jamming and spoofing.
