GPS Spoofing
Context:
In early November 2025, aircraft flying over Delhi encountered GPS spoofing or manipulated Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals.
This is the first time such activity has been documented over inland metropolitan airspace in India, catching pilots off guard as there was no prior warning.
The disruptions were aggravated by the ongoing upgrade of the Instrument Landing System (ILS) on the main runway at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA).
What is GPS Spoofing?
GNSS spoofing, or misleading satellite signals sent to trick air-borne receivers such as enemy drones, is increasingly used in modern warfare and is a growing menace for aircraft systems that rely on GNSS signals.
It is a relatively recent phenomenon seen in conflict regions in West Asia, eastern Russia, and India’s border with Pakistan and Myanmar since 2023.
GPS spoofing involves broadcasting counterfeit satellite signals to deceive GNSS receivers.
Spoofing feeds incorrect coordinates to the navigation system.
This causes them to compute false position, navigation, and timing (PNT)data.
This makes it misread the aircraft's actual location.
It is considered a growing menace in modern warfare and is often used to trick airborne receivers like enemy drones.
Impact on Aviation Safety:
GNSS spoofing doesn’t immediately hamper the safety of an aircraft, as aircraft systems are built with several redundancies, including the Inertial Reference System that’s also used for navigation, which continue to operate safely for up to five hours even if a primary system fails.
The interference can affect multiple systems (including runway warning systems and automatic braking) often forcing pilots to rely on manual intervention and alternative navigation aids.
Recent incidents forced diversions to cities like Jaipur and created heavy congestion at Delhi airport.
Regulatory Response
The National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), headed by the National Security Adviser, has set up a high-level committee to investigate the incidents.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued stricter Standard Operating Protocols (SOP), requiring pilots and air traffic controllers to report such events within 10 minutes to help identify the source swiftly.