Not just in conflict zones, now airlines report GPS spoofing near Amritsar & Jammu too

NEW DELHI: The menace of

GPS spoofing

, so far seen primarily in the conflict zones of West Asia, is now affecting aircraft in

Indian airspace

close to the Pakistan border also. Several airlines have reported cases of GPS interference and spoofing while operating in and around Amritsar, Parliament was informed on Thursday. The disruptions, which impact

aircraft navigation systems

, have been most frequent in the border regions of

Amritsar

and Jammu between November 2023 and February 2025. Union minister of state for civil aviation Murlidhar Mohol told Lok Sabha Thursday a total of 465 incidents of GPS interference and spoofing have been reported during this period.
According to aviation site Skybrary, GPS spoofing is the broadcasting of counterfeit satellite signals to deceive Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers, causing them to compute incorrect position, navigation, and timing data. These issues particularly affect the geographical areas surrounding conflict zones like the Black Sea and Middle East, the website adds.
Mohol said these incidents involve attempts to manipulate or block GPS signals, which could mislead navigation systems used by aircraft. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had issued a circular in Nov 2023, instructing airlines to report such interference cases. The government has since taken steps to address the issue, including issuing Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) in areas where GPS disruptions are frequent, the minister said.
Additionally, airlines have been following standard operating procedures (SOPs) to manage these challenges effectively, he added. To counter such threats, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and European Union Safety Agency (EASA) guidelines have been implemented. Govt is also ensuring that ground-based navigation systems remain operational, allowing pilots to switch to alternative methods in case of GPS interference, the minister said.

The Airports Authority of India (AAI), responsible for managing air navigation services, has been continuously upgrading air traffic management systems to enhance aviation safety. The DGCA's circular from November 2023 outlines a detailed action plan for pilots, aircraft operators, and air traffic controllers to deal with GPS-related disruptions.
Last April also when Eest Asia was very tense, “GPS jamming and spoofing levels (had) surged in the Middle East, with major blackout/interference spots apparent in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, as well as Israel. Traffic routing via Egypt and Saudi on a Middle East transit (Southern Route) should expect spoofing and be alert for early signs of that,” Opsgroup — a global membership organisation for people in flight operations like pilots, flight dispatchers, schedulers, and air traffic controllers — had last Aug said in a “special briefing” due to the increasing tension in the region.
Several pilots operating to the west say GPS spoofing and jamming is worsening by the day. “The moment we cross Iran-Pakistan border, jamming and spoofing start. This continues right till we clear Turkey in the west. The Russian airspace also has this issue, especially closer to the troubled regions,” say pilots.
“We inform enroute ATCs about this and ask them to monitor aircraft position on radar. We are using the alternate DME-DME update that uses the plane’s last location to keep track of its location,” say multiple senior pilots. Airline crew are trained to deal with GPS jamming and spoofing. With multiple war zones and security theatres, this is becoming a real issue especially while crossing international borders and conflict zones as a bid to confuse crew. Airlines exchange notes on this issue in a real-time basis.