Tools on Russian vans jamming satellite tv for pc navigation on industrial planes: French security official

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(Bloomberg) — Russia’s army has been jamming satellite tv for pc navigation methods utilized by industrial plane for the reason that invasion of Ukraine, highlighting the necessity for strong alternate options, in response to a French security regulator.

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Airline pilots have reported disruptions in areas across the Black Sea, jap Finland and the Kaliningrad enclave, mentioned Benoit Roturier, head of satellite tv for pc navigation at France’s civil aviation authority DGAC. The interference seems to be attributable to Russian vans carrying jamming tools usually used to guard troops and installations towards GPS-guided missiles, he mentioned.

“I don’t think the goal is to jam civil aviation at this stage,” Roturier mentioned in an interview. “That is collateral damage.”

While no harmful in-flight scenario has occurred on account of backup measures, pilots confronted with an episode are compelled to cope with cockpit alerts that may be distracting, he mentioned.

“All of Europe needs to prepare contingency plans for when these satellite systems are lost,” Roturier mentioned. “For some countries closer to the front, who may be less advanced in putting in place contingency plans, the current situation has served to highlight the need. It’s a wake-up call.”

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The jamming of satellite tv for pc alerts used for navigation has thrown up one more aviation complication from the battle, which has led to flying bans throughout the nations and triggered a spread of sanctions on airways and jet producers.

Representatives for Russia’s protection ministry and the Kremlin didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.

Probable Problems

Earlier this month, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency warned of an “increased probability of problems” with the Global Navigation Satellite Systems utilized by industrial plane because of the conflict.

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The situation has a precedent in 2018, when some 60 airways reported a number of hundred partial or full losses of satellite tv for pc navigation providers, in response to a 2019 EU report back to the International Civil Aviation Organization.

“In most cases the likely cause was ground-originated jamming,” the report mentioned, citing the usage of high-power jammers impacting giant swathes of airspace in areas the place there was “political tension.”

Russia was accountable for the 2018 incidents as nicely, in response to Roturier, as a part of the nation’s army assist for Syria.

Backup Technologies

The aviation business typically makes use of one Global Positioning System frequency for satellite tv for pc navigation, however there are backup applied sciences for when alerts are misplaced.

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“Airplanes hit by jamming can continue to fly using inertial navigation systems — that is standard and works with GPS,” Roturier mentioned. “This could be less accurate, but can be used when GPS goes down.”

Yet the current incidents associated to the Ukraine conflict have sparked a realization amongst regulators of the potential for enormous airspace disruptions, particularly because the European Union pushes for rising reliance on satellite tv for pc navigation.

“In France, a strong military-jamming event using one truck could cut out a quarter of French skies,” Roturier mentioned. “This is what is worrisome for civil aviation. Large areas can be affected outside of conflict zones.”

©2022 Bloomberg L.P.