Iata, satellite interference in war zones a risk for air transport

The hybrid war made up of interference in GPS and satellite communications is putting a strain on air transport (and not only) in the areas bordering war scenarios, from Ukraine to the Middle East, so much so as to alarm the director general of IATA, the international association of airlines, Willie Walsh, who on his way to the 42nd ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) assembly called for measures to reduce the risks to air traffic. Starting with greater coordination between military and civil aviation authorities. to measures to protect aviation frequencies from interference. "Incidents of GNSS jamming and spoofing are increasing in areas close to conflict zones in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, this is an unacceptable risk that must be mitigated," Walsh said during a conference call with reporters.

 Last week it was Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary who had raised the alarm about the risks of flying in areas bordering the conflicts to the point of considering cancelling flights to Israel permanently. Ryanair flights have been cancelled for security reasons, O'Leary said, adding that the carrier could abandon the country permanently. The continuing attacks in the area have forced repeated closures of airspace, disrupted international flights and prompted major airlines to cancel flights to and from Israel, severely compromising the tourism and aviation sectors and making the entire area vulnerable.

In Eastern Europe, interference to communication systems is going beyond the war hotspots. On 12 August, the Latvian authorities confirmed that Russia is interfering with satellite navigation systems from three sites in Kaliningrad, Leningrad and Pskov, creating risks for civil aviation and infrastructure in the Baltic Sea region. This interference is forcing pilots to resort to backup navigation methods, even to the point of suspending flights. In turn, Estonia has called the interference a 'deliberate hybrid attack' that extends to everyday life, an electronic war that the Baltic countries are fighting.

Traditionally, GPS jamming and spoofing was considered a localised threat, disrupting signals for aircraft or ground forces. But last July, a report from Ukraine revealed that Russian systems are now powerful enough to interfere with GPS signals at an altitude of over 1,900 kilometres, causing satellites in orbit to lose navigation accuracy. Experts say this is the first widely reported case of ground-based systems directly interfering with satellites. The European Space Agency is addressing the issue by investing EUR 1 billion in a new military satellite network.

According to space experts at Astrolight, a Lithuanian start-up specialising in space technologies, the solution is interference-resistant technologies. "The Baltic countries are at the forefront of electronic warfare, and this may soon extend to other regions," commented Laurynas Mačiulis, CEO of Astrolight in a note, "Satellites, navigation systems and communications are being attacked on a regular basis. We need interference-resistant technologies and this problem must be addressed at the NATO level, not just locally'.