Ethical Hacking News
Britain and France have announced a joint effort to develop a backup plan for the Global Positioning System (GPS) in response to growing concerns about the reliability and security of the system. The move comes as researchers from both countries focus on developing alternative PNT technologies like eLoran that can provide resilience in the face of jamming threats.
The UK and France are developing a backup plan for the Global Positioning System (GPS) due to increasing interference threats. eLoran, a terrestrial-based technology using low-frequency bands, is being considered as an alternative PNT system. eLoran offers advantages in providing accurate positioning and timing information even in areas where GPS signals are degraded or unavailable. The British government has issued a Request for Information (RFI) for a portable eLoran network and a tender for a nationally owned eLoran PNT system within the UK.
The Global Positioning System (GPS) has long been the cornerstone of navigation and timing technology, providing a reliable means of pinpointing location and time anywhere on Earth. However, in recent years, GPS signals have become increasingly vulnerable to interference, with reports of jamming and spoofing incidents flooding in from various regions around the world.
In response to these growing threats, Britain and France have announced a joint effort to develop a backup plan for the GPS system. The move comes as the UK's Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) recognizes the need for alternative positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) technologies that can complement GPS but also provide resilience in the face of jamming threats.
According to DSIT, researchers from both countries will focus on developing PNT systems that are more resistant to interference. One such system being considered is eLoran (enhanced long-range navigation), a terrestrial-based technology that uses ground-based radio towers operating within the 90-110 kHz low frequency band. This system has proven itself to be much more challenging to block than satellite-based PNT systems, which can be affected by signal jamming and spoofing.
The use of low-frequency bands enables signals to travel long distances into areas that satellite-based PNT systems cannot reach, such as inside buildings. eLoran, therefore, offers a unique advantage in terms of its ability to provide accurate positioning and timing information even in areas where GPS signals are degraded or unavailable.
In addition to eLoran, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has also issued a Request for Information (RFI) for a portable eLoran network comprising a minimum of three transmitters that can be transported in a shipping container for deployment in the field. This move suggests that the British government is already moving forward with the development and implementation of eLoran as part of its national PNT strategy.
Furthermore, the British government has also issued a tender in May for a contractor to build and operate a nationally owned eLoran PNT system within the UK. This decision may already have been made, according to sources, indicating that the UK is committed to investing in alternative PNT technologies as part of its efforts to enhance national resilience.
The joint UK-France effort to develop a backup plan for GPS comes as concerns about the reliability and security of the system grow. In recent years, there have been numerous reports of GPS interference in various regions around the world, with Russia being implicated in some incidents. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has also claimed that GPS interference is now a major flight safety concern, with jamming and spoofing incidents recorded across Eastern Europe and the Middle East.
The development of alternative PNT technologies like eLoran represents a significant step forward in terms of enhancing national resilience and security. By investing in these technologies, Britain and France are sending a clear message that they will not be caught off guard by GPS interference or jamming threats. The future of navigation and timing technology has never been more uncertain, but with the development of eLoran and other alternative PNT systems, there is hope that the reliability and security of these critical infrastructure applications can be safeguarded.
In conclusion, the joint UK-France effort to develop a backup plan for GPS represents a major step forward in terms of enhancing national resilience and security. By investing in alternative PNT technologies like eLoran, Britain and France are signaling their commitment to protecting critical infrastructure applications that rely on accurate positioning and timing information.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/The-Global-Positioning-Systems-Uncertain-Future-Britain-and-France-Unveil-a-Backup-Plan-ehn.shtml
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2025/07/14/britain_france_navigation_alternatives/
Published: Mon Jul 14 05:37:21 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
