GPS jamming threatens maritime and military navigation. Focus on tactics, consequences and solutions developed by nations.
GPS navigation systems are crucial to military and commercial navigation. However, jamming and spoofing technologies are disrupting their operation. Russia, China and North Korea regularly use these tactics, impacting the safety of maritime and air infrastructures. Such interference also complicates NATO military exercises, while highlighting the vulnerabilities of current technologies. International efforts are now focused on improving GPS systems and alternatives such as inertial navigation systems (INS). The strategic and economic stakes of these technologies are considerable.
The threat of GPS jamming in Finland and Norway
Since 2024, GPS interference has been disrupting navigation in Finland and Norway, attributed to Russian jammers located on the Kola Peninsula. These jammers affect commercial vessels in a strategic region with dense maritime traffic, particularly for Russian oil tankers seeking to circumvent economic sanctions.
- Range of jammers: up to 80 km with devices like the Pole 21.
- Economic consequences: Delays and diversions lead to financial losses for shipping companies.
- Tense diplomacy: Relations between Russia and the Nordic nations, already fragile, are deteriorating further.
Despite technical evidence provided by Norway, Russia systematically denies any involvement.
Russian jamming technologies and their use
Russia uses a range of GPS technologies, including Pole 21 portable jammers and intensive jamming devices. These systems, originally designed for military applications, are sometimes used by non-state actors, such as criminals or terrorists.
Pole 21 features:
- Power: 20 watts.
- Capacity: neutralizes GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and Beidou.
- Estimated cost: around €20,000 per unit.
However, these devices have proved ineffective in direct combat, notably in Ukraine and Syria. Their usefulness remains limited in the face of countermeasure technologies, such as HARM missiles, capable of destroying jamming sources.
The strategic role of Norwegian ELINT ships
The Norwegian electronic intelligence (ELINT) vessels Marjata and Eger play a crucial role in monitoring Russian military activities in the Barents Sea. These vessels collect valuable data on Russian electronic warfare (EW) systems.
Technical data on the Marjata:
- Length: 126 meters.
- Crew: 60 technicians.
- Estimated cost: 250 million euros when commissioned in 2016.
The strategic repositioning of the Marjata at Harstad in 2020, far from Russian bases, has minimized the impact of enemy jammers while enhancing surveillance capability.
Technological alternatives: INS systems and anti-jamming solutions
Inertial navigation systems (INS) are gaining in popularity as an alternative or complement to GPS. These systems are resistant to jamming and provide a reliable solution for the military and commercial sectors.
Advances in INS systems :
- Accuracy: reduced to 10-30 meters, compared with 10 meters for GPS.
- Price: still high, around €50,000 per advanced unit.
- Main users: air forces, shipping companies and smartphone manufacturers.
The United States is investing heavily in the development of anti-jamming solutions for drones and missiles. New technologies often combine GPS and INS to compensate for interruptions.
Impact on military and civilian operations
GPS interference has a direct impact on military exercises, drone operations and civilian transport. Russian jammers, like those used in North Korea or the Middle East, disrupt the navigation of aircraft and ships, exposing critical infrastructures to increased risks.
- For example, in North Korea in 2012, a jamming campaign affected over 100 ships and 200 aircraft departing from Seoul.
- Security measures: increased use of INS and adoption of laser-guided bombs as an alternative.