Navigating Interference: 1,951 Instances of GPS Disruption in Indian Airspace

Since November 2023, 1,951 cases of interference with aircraft GPS systems have been reported in India, affecting major airports like Delhi and Mumbai. The DGCA issued guidelines for handling GPS spoofing, with ICAO identifying it as radio frequency interference. Authorities are actively investigating and implementing mitigation strategies.

A staggering 1,951 incidents of interference with aircraft GPS systems have been reported over a two-year span since November 2023, the government announced on Thursday. Major airports in India, including Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata, have been notable sites of such interference, raising alarms in aviation circles.

Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol highlighted that these reports have surfaced following a crucial advisory circular by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued on November 24, 2023. The DGCA circular addressed the growing problem of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) interference in airspace.

Identified as a form of International Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), GPS spoofing and jamming pose significant risks to navigation systems. As investigations continue, frameworks for continuous threat monitoring, comprehensive risk assessments, and deployment of mitigation barriers are being implemented according to the ICAO GNSS Manual.

(With inputs from agencies.)