// UNMANNED SYSTEMS AND NEXT-GEN WARFARE TERM
Spoofing
Spoofing is the act of tricking a satellite receiver, like a GPS, by broadcasting a fake signal that appears genuine. This deception causes the targeted system to calculate an incorrect position or time, leading to navigation errors or system failures.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
Spoofing is an electronic warfare (EW) technique in counter-space operations that involves transmitting counterfeit signals to a target's Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver to manipulate its position, navigation, and timing (PNT) data. This cyber-attack deceives guidance, targeting, and communication systems by generating false spatiotemporal coordinates, thereby compromising military asset integrity and mission execution.
BACKGROUND
In global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), a spoofing attack attempts to deceive a GNSS receiver by broadcasting fake GNSS signals, structured to resemble a set of normal GNSS signals, or by rebroadcasting genuine signals captured elsewhere or at a different time. Spoofing attacks are generally hard to detect as adversaries generate counterfeit signals. These spoofed signals are challenging to recognize from legitimate signals, thus confusing ships' calculation of positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT). This means that spoofed signals may be modified in such a way as to cause the receiver to estimate its position to be somewhere other than where it actually is, or to be located where it is but at a different time, as determined by the attacker. One common form of a GNSS spoofing attack, commonly termed a carry-off attack, begins by broadcasting signals synchronized with the genuine signals observed by the target receiver. The power of the counterfeit signals is then gradually increased and drawn away from the genuine signals.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- GNSS spoofing
- signal deception
- GPS spoofing
- PNT attack
- navigation warfare
- meaconing
- signal falsification
USAGE NOTE
Unlike jamming which denies a signal, spoofing subtly manipulates it, making the attack much harder to detect by the targeted system.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to Spoofing.
A major defense contractor that develops advanced electronic warfare (EW) systems. Their products include GPS receivers with anti-spoofing and anti-jamming technology, as well as airborne EW systems capable of spoofing enemy radar and communications.
L3Harris is a leading provider of assured Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) solutions. They develop advanced GPS modules and receivers for military platforms that are designed to detect and mitigate spoofing and jamming attempts.
Raytheon, a business of RTX, develops sophisticated electronic warfare systems like the Next Generation Jammer (NGJ), which can be used to deceive and spoof enemy air defense systems. They also produce advanced radar and navigation systems with built-in protections against spoofing.
A global aerospace and defense technology company that creates a wide range of electronic warfare systems. Their portfolio includes technologies for both offensive electronic attack, such as signal spoofing, and defensive capabilities to protect assets from being spoofed.
Spirent develops test equipment for PNT systems used by the military and defense industry. They create advanced GNSS simulators that can generate complex spoofing and jamming signals to test the resilience of navigation systems.
A company specializing in software-based solutions to protect against GNSS (GPS) spoofing and jamming. Their technology is designed to defend drones, autonomous vehicles, and other critical systems from malicious spoofing attacks.
As a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC), MITRE conducts extensive research into the vulnerabilities of PNT systems. They develop and prototype novel techniques and algorithms to detect, locate, and mitigate GNSS spoofing threats for government agencies.
The NRL is the corporate research lab for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. Its researchers work on next-generation PNT solutions and electronic warfare, including developing alternative navigation technologies that are immune to GPS spoofing and creating methods to detect sophisticated spoofing attacks.