Concerns Rise Over GPS Jamming in Norway, Prompting Industry Response
Recent developments regarding GPS jamming in Finnmark, Norway, have sparked significant concern among industry experts. Melanie Garson, a professor specializing in international conflict resolution at University College London, warns that the Norwegian Communications Authority’s (NKOM) decision to halt tracking of jamming activities sets a precarious standard. "By not reacting, how do you enforce a deterrent effect?" she poses, underscoring the uncertainty surrounding governmental solutions to the jamming issue versus relying on the affected industries to address it themselves.
While NKOM asserts its efforts to neutralize GPS interference from within Norwegian borders, spokesperson Gerrard highlights the agency’s role in the annual Jammerfest event held on the island of Andøya. This gathering invites both governmental and industry representatives to test countermeasures against jamming and GPS spoofing—an attack strategy where false GPS signals mislead devices regarding their true location.
Widerøe pilots express trepidation regarding the implications of the jamming phenomenon for the manufacturers of navigation equipment in their aircraft, predominantly American firms. Rolf Fossgård, Widerøe’s deputy VP of flight operations, notes that the American Navstar satellite system appears to be under assault, given that other devices, such as iPads, which leverage multiple satellite constellations, continue to function during jamming episodes. The pilots worry that if American companies remain unaffected by the interference, they might lack the incentive to enhance their systems to withstand future jamming attacks, leaving European and Middle Eastern operators vulnerable.
The evolving situation in the airspace over Finnmark has raised alarms as most of the recorded interference has occurred at altitudes above 6,000 feet, indicating that the jamming source is likely grounded. This pattern suggests that lower-altitude operations may remain shielded due to the Earth’s curvature. However, firsthand accounts reveal potential risks at lower altitudes. In April, one pilot, identified as Thomassen, reported encountering jamming while attempting to land in Båtsfjord. He successfully completed the landing visually, but Widerøe has yet to ascertain the reasons for this unusual disturbance.
Fortunately, the flat terrain surrounding Båtsfjord mitigates some operational risks, as Thomassen highlights the challenges posed by Norway’s mountainous landscape. If similar incidents were to occur in more rugged areas, the implications could be significantly more severe.
As stakeholders in the aviation sector navigate these emerging threats, the situation underlines the potential use of various adversarial tactics documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework. Techniques related to initial access, persistence, and privilege escalation may apply in assessing the nature of the jamming interruptions faced by the aviation community. Industry experts are increasingly called to collaborate on developing solutions that can bolster system resilience against such cybersecurity risks.
