The Russian Navy has installed temporary GPS jammers on at least one of its warships ahead of a high-profile naval parade in St. Petersburg, according to experts.

 

An image published Wednesday by military and open source intelligence analyst H I Sutton shows a photo of a Russian Navy frigate taken in Russia's second largest city on July 14 that appears to show multiple sets of GPS network jammer installed on the ship's exterior.

 

 

Newsweek could not independently verify the date and location of the video. However, military expert David Hamblin said the presence of GPS jammers on the ship does indicate that the Kremlin fears that Kiev, Ukraine supporters or anti-Putin groups will plot drone attacks. Samuel Bentt of the Center for Naval Analysis said it was "entirely feasible" that Moscow chose to use cell phone jammer and had done so before the war in Ukraine. But he told Newsweek that the evidence is limited and it's hard to judge.

 

 

The drone threat: GPS jamming systems and available countermeasures

 

While GPS jamming may not be the first thing on the minds of many drone operators, government and civilian customers around the world are vulnerable to GPS jamming technology, which can cause expensive drones to drop from the sky when hackers attack GPS access with easily accessible tools. Because the satellite GPS signals that actually reach vehicles and drones are quite weak, using radio frequency transmitters that operate at the same frequency as GPS can have catastrophic effects, as seen in the attack on a light show in Zhengzhou, China, where hundreds of drones crashed to the ground.

 

 

Typically, denial-of-service attacks on GPS networks are launched by powerful radio frequency transmitters that can use a variety of methods to try to interfere with satellite connections between drones or vehicles and satellite networks above them. To solve this problem, anti-jamming devices can try to change the direction of the high-frequency beam (using beamforming or steering), or dampen the attack frequency and create "invalid zones," which are more effective but more difficult to roll out.

 

 

Other experts were skeptical about the extent to which the images revealed possible interfering features on board.

 

 

It has been speculated that the potential jamming system could be part of the R-330Zh Zhitel(on-board system), or it could be part of the Pole-21E jamming system. Newsweek has contacted the Russian Defense Ministry by email for comment.

 

 

Hamblin told Newsweek that Russia has an "extensive" track record of using GPS jamming - blocking GPS reception and "spoofing," showing the wrong location on trackers - to fend off drone attacks.

 

 

The first military parade was held in Russia's second largest city in 2017, TASS reported.

 

 

Drones and rapidly developing unmanned technology have played a major role in the war in Ukraine. Both sides want to use drone technology to inflict damage on critical infrastructure at low cost, and experts say the ongoing conflict has sparked drone innovation at "lightning speed."

 

 

But the Kremlin has said in recent months that beyond Ukraine's borders, Moscow itself has been repeatedly targeted by drone strikes.

 

 

On May 3, Russia said two drones had struck the Kremlin in what it called a "planned terrorist attack and assassination attempt against the president" ahead of annual Victory Day military celebrations. The Russian leader said in a statement that the drones were "intercepted on Kremlin territory, with debris scattered and without causing any casualties or damage".

 

 

"Russia reserves the right to take countermeasures at the time and place it deems appropriate," the Kremlin added.

 

 

Moscow has blamed Kiev for the attack, but Kiev has denied carrying out the drone strike

 

Later that month, the Russian military said eight Ukrainian drones had struck wealthy neighborhoods in Moscow, damaging several buildings. Three of the drones were neutralized by electronic warfare, the Russian Defense Ministry said at the time, adding that the remaining five were intercepted by the Pantsier-S air defense system.

 

 

On July 4, Moscow accused Ukraine of firing five drones at the Russian capital, saying four of them were destroyed by Russian air defense systems and the fifth was "neutralized by electronic warfare."

 

 

Russia's defence ministry said flights at Vnukovo airport, one of Moscow's main transport hubs, had been disrupted but there was no damage to infrastructure.

 

 

"Given the recent spate of drone strikes in Moscow, the main concern may be an aerial attack," Hamblin said of the Navy Day parade. But Russia has also accused Ukraine of using unmanned surface ships to carry out attacks on annexed territory in Crimea, attacking Russia's Black Sea naval base in Sevastopol and the Kerch Bridge, a key crossing point connecting Crimea to the Russian mainland.

 

 

Experts told Newsweek earlier this week that this type of attack, which typically uses improvised water drones, is one that Russia's defenses are inadequate for.

 

 

Hamblin said, however, that an attack on Russian forces in St. Petersburg on Navy Day seemed unlikely due to the distance between Ukrainian territory and the Baltic city.

 

 

 

New Delhi: The telecom department has warned e-commerce platforms not to sell some telecom equipment such as wireless jammer and network boosters that require government permission for sale, an official statement said on Monday. Over the past 4-5 years, the Department of Transportation has raised this issue several times and even conducted surprise inspections to check for illegal sales of these devices.

 

"It is stated that the use of cellular signal jammers, GPS interceptors or other signal jamming devices is generally illegal unless specifically permitted by the Government of India. Private sector organizations and/or individuals cannot procure or use cell phone jammer in India." DoT in stated is a statement.

 

 

The Ministry of Transport also stated that it is illegal to advertise, sell, distribute, import or otherwise market signal jamming devices in India unless permitted by the above guidelines.

 

 

"Regarding signal boosters/repeaters, it is illegal for any person/entity other than a licensed telecommunications service provider to possess, sell and/or use mobile signal boosters/repeaters," the statement said.

 

 

The department also issued a notice on Jan. 21 warning all e-commerce companies not to sell or facilitate the sale of wireless jammers on their online platforms.

 

 

Copies of the above notification have also been distributed to the Ministry of Commerce, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, and Customs for appropriate action.

 

 

Telecom industry body Indian Cellular Operators said citizens who are unaware that the purchase, sale, installation and possession of mobile signal boosters (MSBs) are illegal and punishable under the Wireless Telegraph Act, of 1933 and the Indian Telegraph Act, of 1885.

 

 

“Unauthorized usage can adversely interfere with telecom services and we are happy that the Indian government recognizes its importance in providing flawless network and telecom experience to citizens across the country. The advisory will help spread awareness and make citizens aware of The impact of this debilitating repeater on the entire network," said COAI Director General SP Kochhar.

 

 

 

A resident of the town of Messanges in southwestern France could spend six months behind bars after unwittingly taking down telephony and mobile internet services in his neighborhood with a signal jammers.

 

Surprisingly, though, his actions were not malicious. He only wanted to prevent his teenage kids from using their mobile devices to go online after bedtime.

 

 

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According to the French planning and radio frequency management agency (ANFR), a local mobile phone operator filed an unusual complaint this month – just before midnight and until 3 AM every of the week, the residents of Messanges could not use their cellular and mobile internet services.

 

 

Following an investigation, the ANFR determined that a signal phone jammer, a device prohibited in many European countries including France, was blocking radio frequencies in the area.

 

 

Around 1:30 am, a technician traced the source of the signal to a residence in the coastal town. The next day investigators, accompanied by police, knocked on the door of the man, who immediately admitted he was using a multi-band jammer.

 

 

“The gps blocker had been installed by the father of the family to prevent his teenagers from accessing the internet with their smartphone instead of going to bed,” the ANFR explained. “His children had indeed become addicted to social networks and other applications, in particular since the confinement imposed due to Covid-19. After consulting forums on the internet, the father decided that a jammer was the best solution to put an end to his kids’ excessive screen time.”

 

 

On top of possible jail time, the illicit possession and use of a jammer bring a financial penalty of up to €30,000.

 

 

“The ANFR agent, in addition to demanding that he turn off the wifi blocker and no longer use it, reminded the owner of the equipment of the regulatory framework,” the agency added.

 

 

The man also had to pay an intervention fee of 450 euros.

 

 

 

 

 

Signal jamming is an attempt to interfere with and stop wireless communications. The culprit transmits noise on a specific radio frequency. Then, no one in the affected area can use services that rely on that frequency.

 

Confusingly, cellphone jammers do not prevent devices from getting good reception. However, they prevent the target from initiating or receiving calls or messages. Signal interference can also affect Internet services, leaving people without access to the Internet.

 

 

Is it possible to stop bomber drones?

 

As the name suggests, a bombing drone is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that can be used for drone attacks. They are part of a larger subset of combat UAVs used for target acquisition, surveillance, reconnaissance, and intelligence gathering purposes.

 

 

Although bomber drones are unmanned, they have never been fully automated. Instead, humans tend to control them in real time from remote locations.

 

 

This, of course, means a significant reduction in weight compared to a typical aircraft, since all the necessities of a human pilot are no longer a factor here.

 

 

Anti-Drone Gun

 

The anti-drone gun is exactly what it sounds like. These are used to shoot at drones. A shot in this case could be physically destructive or could provide a burst of radio-frequency signal technology.

 

 

Perfect example of an anti-drone gun: It's a gps blocker that can neutralize all drones, even their GPS. By simultaneously interrupting signal types such as GPS-L1, GPS-L2, and ISM, all frequencies can be safely neutralized for up to 10 minutes on a single charge.

 

 

The design requires manual operation and has a surprisingly flat learning curve, meaning that it is little inconvenience for new operators to use. Given that the gun is equipped with a compass and GPS, which is advantageous for the operator, aiming at the target is not much of a challenge.

 

 

Electromagnetic pulse

 

The anti-drone EMP is very similar to the traditional EMP type, providing a destructive function to the electronic circuits in the drone. By using an antenna, the pulse can be properly focused and collateral damage prevented.

 

 

In movies, tracking devices are a writer's favorite gadget - a simple (and cliched) plot device that instantly foils villains. While the use of GPS tracking in the film is largely based on reality, the film doesn't show you the bureaucracy involved in making it legal. In addition, the films depict tracking devices as high-tech and sophisticated, using hardware and software that would not exist today.

 

 

Fiction: Hackers use GPS tracking devices to remotely disable and crash targeted cars.

 

Fact: Yes, car hacking is possible, as two hackers proved in 2015. However, it is important to know that they hacked the car through an onboard computer connected to the Internet. Aftermarket GPS tracking devices are only connected to the car's power supply and are not integrated with any other on-board electronics. That being said, there are some tracking devices for sale that advertise remote engine disabling.

 

 

The reality of GPS tracking is far less complicated than the movies show. Movies and other works of fiction may treat tracking devices as malicious tools that can be used to analyze and spy on unassuming innocents. In fact: If the police want to use GPS to track suspects, they need to obtain legal permission. A GPS tracker is a simple device that combines GPS coordinates with map data. While Black Knight does have additional features, our trackers will never integrate with your vehicle's computer and adversely affect its performance. In other words, they don't make your vehicle vulnerable to hacking.

 

 

Protect yourself from signal interference

 

In addition to detecting when someone is trying to interfere with your signal, there are a number of prevention methods you can consider.

 

 

First, you can change the Wi-Fi frequency and channel. Most signal wifi jamming devices block the 2.4 GHz frequency. So, by choosing 5 GHz, you can restore your Internet connection.

 

 

For home security systems, you can use tools that use proprietary algorithms that can identify interference. Such programs then alert the owner that someone is trying to interfere with the security system.

 

 

Finally, if you are unable to send a message or call, you can try using a VoIP service. This should help avoid attempts to interfere with radio frequencies.

 

 

 

Bluelinx President Jeff Griffin said he is trying to sign up wireless providers as well as venues such as cafes and theaters. He says he hopes to start using the devices in the next few years. Unlike blocker device, he said, his call-blocking system is optional for cell phone users, who can turn it on or off.

 

Others have the same idea, including companies and researchers who develop or already sell devices that make phones unusable in certain places. Methods include drone jammer that interfere with cell phone frequencies, routing systems that mute cell phone ringtones at specific locations, sensors that detect active phones, and building materials that block cell phone waves.

 

 

Mr. Larson of the cellular industry group said that while the industry opposes controls on cell phone ringing, it is not opposed to measures that are left to the discretion of customers. "They're certainly less annoying than wifi blocker," he said.

 

 

Netline, an Israeli company, makes a detector called the Cell Activity Analyzer, a handheld device that monitors and detects cell communication activity within a given area. ($2,500 at www.netline.co.il or www.perfectjammer.com.) Other smaller detector models include Suresafe Technology's RF signal detector, which is about the size of a buzzer and costs less than $100. As with gps blocker, the larger the detector, the greater its range.

 

 

The site says it has sold thousands of devices to theaters, businesses, military users and individuals. Jammers range in price from $200 for basic handheld models to nearly $10,000 for suitcase-sized devices sold to governments and the military, with prices often depending on signal range and the potential to interfere with cellular activity.

 

 

 

Other methods are also being developed, from devices that simply detect phone usage (and prompt the user to stop) to construction methods that render the phone unusable.

 

 

But not everyone sees the trend as encouraging. Cell phone industry experts and federal regulators in particular have derided cell phone blocker as illegal, unethical and even dangerous.

 

 

 

 

 

Don let phone notifications stress you out

 

With all those smartphone notifications, it's no wonder you lose focus on whatever you're trying to do.

 

 

Your phone doesn't even need to ping to distract you. It's well-documented that just the presence of your phone, silent or not, is enough to distract you.

 

 

what happens? More importantly, how can you refocus your attention without missing out on what’s important?

 

 

Is it really such a big deal?

 

While estimates vary, the average person checks their phone about 85 times a day, about once every 15 minutes.

 

 

In other words, every 15 minutes or so, your attention may drift away from what you're doing. The problem is, it can take a few minutes to fully regain your focus after being interrupted by your phone.

 

 

If you're watching TV, getting distracted (and refocused) is no big deal. But if you're driving, trying to study, work, or spend time with loved ones, it can cause some pretty serious problems.

 

 

Cellphone Jammer, a DIY endeavor for the darker crowd. I'm pretty sure we've all considered having one at some point: whether the obnoxiously loud woman next to you is announcing private bedroom stories to a crowd on the subway, or your kids are grounded from using the phone (and consequently snagged a hidden prepaid phone), sometimes having a cell phone signal jammer comes in handy.

 

 

What do all these disruptions mean for cognition and well-being?

 

There is growing evidence that push notifications are associated with reduced productivity, poor concentration, and distraction at work and school.

 

 

But is there evidence that our brains are working harder to handle the frequent switches of attention?

 

 

A study of people's brainwaves found that those who described themselves as heavy smartphone users were more sensitive to push notifications than those who described themselves as light users.

 

 

Heavy users were significantly worse than light users at regaining focus on the task after hearing a push notification. Although push notifications interrupted the concentration of both groups, heavy users took longer to refocus.

 

 

Frequent interruptions from your phone can also make you feel stressed out by the need to respond. Frequent smartphone interruptions have also been linked to increased FOMO (fear of missing out).

 

 

If you get distracted by your phone after responding to a notification, any subsequent delays in getting back to the task can also make you feel guilty or frustrated.

 

 

There is certainly evidence that the longer you use your phone in an unproductive way, the lower your rating of your own happiness is.

 

 

Mr. Larson of the cellular industry group said that while the industry objected to imposed controls on cellphone ringing, it did not oppose measures left to the customers' discretion. ''They are certainly less odious than gps blocker,'' he said.

 

 

How can I stop?

 

We know that turning your phone to silent won't magically solve the problem, especially if you're already checking it frequently.

 

 

What is needed is behavior change, but it is difficult. It may take several attempts to see lasting changes. If you've ever tried to quit smoking, lose weight, or start an exercise program, you know what I mean.

 

 

An company Perfectjammer, makes a detector called Wireless Signal Detector Prevents Monitoring, a hand-held device that is used to monitor and detect cellular communication activity in a given area. (It is offered at www.perfectjammer.com for $100-$380.) Other smaller detector models include the RF Signal Detector from TG-007B, about the size of a beeper, which costs less than $100. As with wifi jammers, the larger the detector, the greater its range.

 

 

Start by turning off all unnecessary notifications. If you want to check your phone less often, here are some things you can try:

 

 

In that moment, interrupt the urge to check and actively decide whether it will work in your favor. For example, when you turn to reach for your phone, stop and ask yourself if this action serves a purpose other than to distract.

 

 

 

While federal law prohibits the use of radar signal jammers throughout the United States, laser jammers are legal in most states, but the following states have explicitly banned their use: California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, D.C.

 

Penalties vary by state. In Texas, for example, the maximum fine is $500, while in Utah violators can face up to 90 days in prison and a $750 fine.

 

 

Military Eliminates Iraqi GPS Jammers

 

WASHINGTON - The president spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday about the sale of sensitive military equipment to Iraq, but the discussion may have been moot as military officials said they had destroyed six GPS jammers.

 

 

Air Force Maj. Gen. Victor E. Renuart Jr. told a news conference Tuesday at U.S. Central Command at Camp Sariyah, Qatar, that six GPS jammers "supplied by other countries" have been deactivated by U.S. forces.

 

 

We took out a GPS jammer with a GPS weapon

 

Renuarte did not specify that the cellphone jammers were part of a shipment of supplies from Russian companies to Iraq, but the U.S. has repeatedly expressed concern that Russia is allowing the supplies to slip through Iraq in violation of decade-long U.N. sanctions.

 

 

In a call to Putin on Monday morning, White House spokesman Ali Ali expressed concern over reports that Russians were actually on the ground in Iraq teaching Iraqi troops how to use prohibited hardware such as night-vision goggles, GPS jammers and anti-tank missiles. Fleischer said.

 

 

GPS jammers in particular slowed the bombing of Baghdad as the military took extra care not to hit civilian targets

 

Iraq may have acquired as many as 400 electronic "jammers" that could divert U.S. smart bombs from their intended course if the U.S. went to war.

 

 

The Pentagon has "genuine concern at the highest levels" that Baghdad may have purchased the wifi jammers from a Russian company.

 

 

The types of bombs that can be redirected by these jammers are called "J-Dams" -- "Joint Direct Attack Munitions" guided by global satellites. These are military GPS-guided bombs.They cost around $21,000 each and have a maximum range of 15 miles. The J-Dams debuted in Kosovo in 1999.

 

 

The Air Force is now trying to test similar jammers to see if those used by enemies work against American weapons

 

Federal officials say Iranian forces are actively using GPS jammers and impersonating U.S. or allied warships to lure merchant ships through Iranian waters and then seize them.

 

 

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration issued a warning that Iran was using “GPS jamming, bridge-to-bridge communications spoofing, and/or other communications jamming with little warning.”

 

 

"In at least two of these incidents, the ships reported GPS jamming," the statement read. "The ships also reported spoofed bridge-to-bridge communications from unknown entities falsely claiming to be U.S. or coalition warships."

 

 

 

A small surveillance drone flew over the Austin stadium, diligently following a series of GPS waypoints programmed into its flight computer. On the face of it, the mission was routine.

 

Suddenly, the drone veered sharply off course, deviating from its intended flight path and hurtling east. After a few minutes, when it was clear that something was seriously wrong, the drone made a sharp right turn and headed south. Then, as if some ghost had ordered the drone to self-destruct, it hurtled toward the ground. Just a few feet from some kind of disaster, a safety pilot with a radio control device saved the drone from crashing into the scene.

 

 

On the sidelines, there were smiles all around about the near-disaster. Professor Todd Humphreys and his team at the University of Texas at Austin's Radionavigation Laboratory have just completed a successful experiment: closing a hole in the government's plan to open U.S. airspace to thousands of drones.

 

 

They can be turned into weapons

 

Spoofing the GPS receiver on a drone is just another way to hijack a plane

 

In other words, with the right equipment, anyone can take control of a GPS-guided drone and make it do whatever they want.

 

 

Spoofing is a relatively new problem in GPS navigation. So far, the main problem has been GPS jammer device, which are easily available via the Internet and used by people to hide illegal use of GPS-tracked company vans, for example. Iran is also believed to have shot down a US spy drone in December by jamming drone its GPS, forcing it into automatic landing mode after losing direction.

 

 

"Tricking the GPS receiver on a drone is just another way to hijack a plane." Todd Humphreys, a researcher at the University of Texas Radio Navigation Laboratory

 

 

Cell phone jammer can cause problems by disrupting GPS signals, while spoofers are a huge leap forward in technology. They can actually manipulate navigation computers with false information that looks real. He used his device - what Humphreys says is the most advanced spoofer ever built (which costs just $1,000) - to infiltrate the drone's GPS system and send out a signal more powerful than those coming from satellites high in Earth's orbit. .

 

 

Initially, his signal matched that of the GPS, so the drone thought there was nothing wrong. That's when he strikes - sending his commands to an onboard computer to get the drone to follow his lead.

 

 

Mr Humphreys said the impact was severe. "Within one to three years, the airspace will have 20,000 drones," he told Fox News. "Every one of them could be a potential missile aimed at us."

 

 

Drones have been widely used in places like Iraq, Afghanistan and Yemen, but so far GPS-guided drones have been limited to battlefield or southern border patrols and have not been allowed to fly widely in U.S. airspace.

 

 

Under pressure from the Pentagon and drone manufacturers, Congress ordered the FAA to write rules allowing government and commercial use of drones on U.S. soil by 2015. The plan could eventually see police drones spying on U.S. cities, drones monitoring power company transmission lines, or GPS-guided freighter-sized drones delivering packages across the country without a driver. FedEx founder Fred Smith said he hopes to add drones to his fleet soon.

 

 

The new rules have raised privacy concerns about a "surveillance society" where drones tirelessly monitor our every move 24/7. But Humphreys' experiment puts a whole new spin on anxieties about drones.

 

 

"What if you could shoot down one of these drones delivering a FedEx package and use it as your missile?" It's the same mentality as the 9-11 attackers."

 

 

This is something the government is acutely aware of. In the deserted desert of the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, officials from the FAA and Department of Homeland Security watched Humphrey's team constantly take control of a drone from a remote mountaintop. The results were as dramatic as the test at UT Stadium a few days earlier.

 

 

The Department of Homeland Security is trying to identify and mitigate gps jamming with its new Patriot Watch and Patriot Shield programs, but the effort is poorly funded, still in its infancy, and mostly aimed at finding people using jammers rather than spoofers.

 

 

The potential consequences of GPS spoofing are simply chilling. Humphries warned that terrorist groups could match his technology and wreak havoc in crowded U.S. airspace.

 

 

"I'm afraid they're going to crash into other planes." "I'm worried they're going to crash into buildings. We could have a collision in the air and there could be casualties, so we want to prevent that from happening and fix it."

 

 

Unlike military drones, which use encrypted GPS systems, most drones flying over the United States will rely on civilian GPS, which is not encrypted and can be easily infiltrated. Humphreys warned that the government needed to address the loophole before allowing drones widespread access to U.S. airspace.

 

 

"It just shows the mindset that we had after 9-11, when we reinforced the cockpit doors to prevent people from hijacking airplanes - well, in terms of the navigation systems of these drones, we need to adopt that mindset."

 

 

 

 

 

The EMP generator generates an electromagnetic pulse to disrupt electronics

 

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in Wisconsin recently seized a slot jammer device while inspecting a shipment from Hong Kong.

 

 

CBP officers made the discovery at the Milwaukee port of entry on Feb. 4, CBP said in a press release.

 

 

Electromagnetic pulse (EMP) devices are banned by the Federal Communications Commission and are used to "interfere" with the inner workings of slot machines.

 

 

According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, an EMP generator generates an electromagnetic pulse that can disrupt electronic devices at a range of about one meter. These devices typically send an electric current through a magnetic field via a magnetic copper wire.

 

 

Border Patrol agents in Arizona have shot dead Mexican migrants at the US border

 

CBP said the shipment was a car adapter from an electronics supplier in Hong Kong and was headed to a home in Mossini, about 175 miles northwest of Milwaukee.

 

 

"There are a variety of ways these tools can be used," LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke, Chicago's director of field operations, said in a statement. "Federal law prohibits such cellphone jammer because they can be used to interfere with radio communications, cellular phones, GPS and other communications devices."

 

 

CBP officers at the Port of Milwaukee Express Consignment Operations facility examined the shipment and sent it to the Mechanical Engineering Division at FBI Headquarters for further analysis.

 

 

 

 

 

Some people fear that cell phone jammers could disrupt phone service for law-abiding people close to prisons. However, modern jamming technology can be narrowly targeted to minimize disruption to people outside of prison walls.

 

It’s time to fix the federal regulations that prohibit jamming device technology and give prisons the tools they need to fight contraband.

 

 

Installing jammers in prisons would turn inmates’ cell phones into paperweights, disrupting their criminal networks and drying up a major source of contraband.

 

 

Risks of GPS Dependence

 

Overreliance on GPS signals is rampant in day-to-day life from data networks, financial systems, health networks, rail, road, aviation and marine transport, to shipping and agriculture. Military platforms commonly use GPS to find their position, navigate and execute missions.

 

 

With different systems sharing GPS dependency, a loss of signal could cause the simultaneous failure of many things people rely on daily.

 

The European Commission estimated that six to seven percent of its countries' GDP, representing a whopping $1 trillion, is already dependent on satellite radio navigation in Europe alone.

 

BAE and Lockheed are not alone in their efforts to develop better, more robust systems. Other countries have developed their systems, including Russia's GLONASS, the European Union's Galileo system, and China's COMPASS.

 

 

Another related issue is the use of GPS. The FAA has been working to upgrade aging radar-based systems with GPS networks for air traffic control and positioning. It should improve safety and pilot awareness. But GPS signals are notoriously vulnerable to disruption: They're relatively weak to begin with, using just 25 watts to send signals from satellites that are roughly 12,500 miles above the Earth. It's so easy to block such signals that GPS jammers are sold online for $30.

 

 

Simply allocating specific radio spectrum to particular devices does not entirely solve the problem either. A recent example is LightSquared, a company that wants to build a network of 40,000 towers across the country to deliver broadband Internet access using the 4G LTE (Long-Term Evolution) wireless data protocols. The company wants to use a frequency spectrum near the existing GPS L1 band. (Consumer GPS devices typically rely on L1 signals, in the 1575.42 MHz wavelength.)