Iran Employs Chinese Technology to Spoof Satellite Navigation Signals
Conflict in the Middle East has now extended into electronic warfare, threatening global aviation safety. The intensity of GPS jamming and signal spoofing attacks by Iran has reportedly increased dramatically, creating fatal risks for U.S. and Israeli military aircraft.
Jack Hidary, CEO of SandboxAQ, warned in an interview with CNBC that Iran now has access to China’s Beidou satellite navigation system. This technological support enables Iran to achieve greater accuracy in missile strikes and targeting operations throughout the Middle East.
Hidary explained that spoofing is far more dangerous than simple signal jamming. False signals transmitted from ground stations can deceive aircraft navigation systems without the flight crew’s awareness.
“If you’re flying an aircraft at 500 to 600 kilometres per hour, you could find yourself in enemy territory very quickly without realising it,” Hidary stated.
Currently, many pilots are forced to use manual techniques, repeatedly turning GPS signals on and off to prevent aircraft inertial systems from being deceived. However, this method is considered unsustainable and carries significant long-term risks.
The scale of this problem extends beyond conflict zones. In the past year alone, 41,000 GPS malfunction incidents have been recorded in the Gulf region, Europe, and surrounding areas. Even the aircraft of European Union President Ursula von der Leyen was reportedly targeted by state actors approximately six months ago, resulting in significant navigation disruptions during flight.
Although Iran’s use of Beidou technology provides temporary tactical advantages, Western allies are believed to be developing ways to neutralise these signals. Hidary emphasised that any satellite-based navigation system inherently retains security vulnerabilities.
As a solution, SandboxAQ is developing AQNav, a magnetic navigation technology that leverages Earth’s unique magnetic signature. Key advantages include its resilience against spoofing and jamming attacks.
The technology has been extensively tested by the U.S. Air Force for over three years. Additionally, Airbus has validated the system through more than 100 flights covering a total distance of 44,000 kilometres.
Hidary concluded that the aviation industry must urgently transition away from GPS dependency as a single point of failure. The adoption of magnetic navigation is considered a crucial step towards securing the future of military defence and commercial aviation safety worldwide.