GPS Jamming and Electronic Interference
Kartavya Desk Staff
Source: IE
Subject: Science and Technology
Context: The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has led to a 55% surge in electronic warfare incidents, with over 1,650 vessels experiencing GPS jamming and spoofing near the Strait of Hormuz.
About GPS Jamming and Electronic Interference:
What it is?
• GPS Jamming is a form of electronic warfare where a terrestrial device emits high-power radio frequency signals to overpower or drown out the relatively weak signals coming from GNSS satellites (like GPS, GLONASS, or NavIC).
How it Works?
• Satellite signals travel thousands of kilometers and are extremely faint by the time they reach Earth. A jammer works by broadcasting noise on the same frequency as the GPS signal (L1 and L2 bands). This creates a high signal-to-noise ratio that prevents the receiver on a ship or aircraft from locking onto the satellite data, effectively blinding the navigation system.
Types of GNSS Interference:
• Jamming (Denial of Service): Complete loss of signal. The receiver shows No Signal or Searching, forcing the operator to use manual navigation.
• Spoofing (Deception): A more sophisticated attack where the jammer sends a fake signal that mimics a real one. The receiver believes it is in a different location (e.g., a ship in the Strait of Hormuz might suddenly appear to be at an inland airport).
About Electronic interference:
What it is?
• Electronic interference, commonly known as Electromagnetic Interference (EMI), is the invisible pollution of the digital age. It occurs when an unwanted electromagnetic field disrupts the normal operation of an electronic device or communication system.
How Electronic Interference Works?
EMI operates through a three-part chain:
• The Source: An object that generates electromagnetic energy (e.g., a motor, lightning, or a smartphone).
• The Path (Coupling): The medium through which the energy travels to reach the victim device.
• The Victim: An electronic device whose performance is degraded by the incoming energy.
The Four Coupling Mechanisms?
• Radiated: The interference travels through the air as radio waves. This is common with cell phones, Wi-Fi routers, and radio stations.
• Conducted: The interference travels through physical wires, such as power cables or signal lines. A common example is mains hum in speakers.
• Inductive (Magnetic): Occurs when a magnetic field from one wire leaks into a nearby wire without touching it.
• Capacitive (Electric): Occurs when two nearby conductors store an electric charge between them, causing voltage noise to transfer across.
Types of Interference:
• Narrowband: Affects only a specific, small frequency range. This is usually man-made noise from radio transmitters or mobile phones.
• Broadband: Affects a wide range of the radio spectrum. This is often caused by malfunctioning equipment, sunspots, or natural phenomena like lightning.
• Continuous: Interference that is constantly emitted (e.g., background radiation from a power line).
• Impulse/Transient: A short-duration burst of energy, such as a lightning strike or an electrostatic discharge (ESD) from your finger.