Photo credit: www.esa.int
Strengthening Satellite Navigation: Insights from Jammertest 2024
High above the Arctic Circle, in the rugged landscape of Andøya, three engineers from the European Space Agency (ESA) take a brief respite amidst their rigorous testing of navigation technologies. With a backdrop of grazing sheep and the mesmerizing northern lights, they have been gathering critical data on how satellite navigation systems can withstand various interference challenges. Over five days, the team successfully collected 100 terabytes of data, a significant contribution towards enhancing the reliability of satellite navigation systems for global use.
Interference poses one of the most significant threats to satellite navigation. Techniques such as jamming—where signals on the same frequency as navigation systems are transmitted to disrupt them—are prevalent. Other tactics, like spoofing and meaconing, involve sending misleading signals or rebroadcasting intercepted signals, thereby compromising the integrity of data used by critical systems, including those in aviation. In recent incidents, airlines, including Finnair, have been forced to cancel flights due to severe GPS interference affecting operations.
To tackle these pressing issues, experts from various sectors gather annually at Jammertest, held near the village of Bleik on Andøya Island. This event is recognized as the world’s largest real-world test for jamming, attracting participants from governmental agencies, international tech companies, and research institutions, all focused on evaluating navigation equipment against potential satnav hacking methodologies.
This year, ESA Navigation played a pivotal role in the testing alongside other authorities and technology suppliers, contributing to an extensive catalog of experiments involving both low and high-power jammers, and various test cases applicable to aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The operations spanned multiple test environments, allowing for a thorough assessment of the equipment’s performance under stress.
The ESA team employed a sophisticated setup including a navigation testbed van outfitted with three different types of antennas—high-precision, antenna array, and dual polarization—all sourced from European manufacturers. A fixed-site station was also part of the setup, enhancing their capability to gather valuable data.
Leveraging Data for Future Innovations
The data amassed during the Jammertest is set to be analyzed in ESA’s Navigation Lab (NavLab) located at the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC). The findings will contribute significantly to research on signal vulnerabilities and countermeasures, testing commercial applications, and validating innovative navigation systems.
Moreover, this information plays a crucial role in developing Galileo services, such as the Galileo Open Service Navigation Message Authentication (OSNMA), while also supporting research and development initiatives aimed at advancing navigation technologies. The data is made available for collaboration with partners under ESA’s Navigation Innovation and Support Programme (NAVISP).
Testbed Vans: Advancing Satellite Navigation Testing
ESA’s NavLab stands at the forefront of navigation and telecommunications testing, offering high-tech facilities and consultancy services for various entities including industry and academia from ESA Member States. Among its offerings are two fully equipped testbed vans, which are essential for conducting field tests on Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers in a variety of environments, from expansive rural areas to congested urban landscapes. These mobile laboratories are equipped with state-of-the-art technology to effectively gather, process, and store data.
During Jammertest, ESA’s team provided essential support for testing third-party devices. One notable innovation tested was ASPIS, an artificial intelligence-driven solution designed for real-time detection of GNSS spoofing, developed by WAY4WARD. Additionally, collaboration with National Instruments facilitated the collection of raw data utilizing the company’s advanced array antenna system.
Such events as Jammertest are integral to improving the resilience of satellite navigation systems. They foster collaboration among academia, industry, and government agencies to better understand interference dynamics and foster the development of solutions. Concurrently, ESA continues to advance various initiatives aimed at enhancing the robustness of satellite navigation, including ongoing developments of services like EGNOS and Galileo, along with demonstrator missions that explore the advantages of a layered approach to satellite navigation.
Source
www.esa.int