GPS jamming is a technique used to interfere with or block satellite navigation signals. It works by transmitting much stronger radio signals on the same frequencies used by GPS satellites, making the receiver (such as a phone, aircraft, or ship) unable to capture the original signal.
How it works step by step:
- GPS satellites transmit very weak radio signals down to Earth.
- A GPS receiver (e.g., in an aircraft) needs at least 4 clear signals to calculate its position.
- A GPS jammer transmits a stronger signal on the same frequency → the satellites effectively “disappear” from the receiver’s view.
- Result: the receiver cannot calculate coordinates → navigation is lost.
Types of interference
- Jamming: Blocks signals by replacing them with electronic “noise.”
- Spoofing: Imitates the original GPS signal, “tricking” the receiver into showing false coordinates. This can make an aircraft or ship appear to be in a different location than it actually is.
Who uses it and why?
- Military use: To disrupt the navigation of enemy drones, aircraft, or missiles.
- Conflict zones: To create confusion, fear, and hinder aerial or maritime operations.
- Civilian context: It can also happen accidentally (e.g., electronic interference), but most often it is deliberate.
Limitations
- Small jammers typically work within a few hundred meters.
- Powerful military systems can cover many kilometers.
- It is illegal in most countries and relatively easy to detect, which is why it is usually linked to state or military operations.
The Ursula von der Leyen incident
When the European Commission President’s plane lost GPS near Bulgaria:
- Pilots switched to backup systems and used traditional navigation to land safely.
- Experts said the interfering signal did not originate from Russia “thousands of kilometers away,” but rather from within European airspace near the airport.
👉 This case highlights why the EU and NATO are treating GPS jamming as a serious threat to national security and civilian aviation.
