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What is GPS Spoofing which is Surging at Indian Airports
India reports nearly 2,000 GPS spoofing cases at major airports, raising aviation safety concerns. Know what GPS spoofing is, how it works, and why it is dangerous.
GPS Spoofing (PC- Social Media)
New Delhi: India has witnessed a surge in navigation-signal disruptions, with 1,951 cases of GPS spoofing and interference affecting aircraft reported between November 2023 and November 2025, the government has informed the Lok Sabha.
Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said that these incidents have been reported at major airports including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Amritsar, Hyderabad, Bangalore, and Chennai.
What is GPS Spoofing
GPS spoofing is a form of electronic interference in which fake satellite-like signals are transmitted to mislead navigation systems. Instead of blocking signals, spoofing imitates genuine satellite transmissions, causing the affected system to register a false position, speed, or time.
For aircraft, which rely heavily on satellite navigation, such disruptions can temporarily distort situational awareness and force pilots to rely on backup systems.
How GPS Spoofing Works
Spoofing involves transmitting fake signals that overcome authentic GPS data, causing the receiver to lock on to false information.
Though aircraft are equipped with multiple layers of navigation security and pilots are trained to detect anomalies, the presence of suspected signals can still complicate operations, especially during critical flight phases.
Dangers of GPS Spoofing
Navigation disruptions increase cockpit workload, create temporary uncertainty in positional accuracy, and place additional pressure on air-traffic controllers managing busy airport corridors.
While aviation safety systems are designed to withstand such interference, repeated or widespread spoofing events reduce safety margins, making routine operations more challenging and increasing the need for heightened vigilance.
The DGCA’s advisory mandates the reporting of all interference events, enabling continuous monitoring of GNSS reliability across Indian airspace. Authorities are investigating the sources of these disruptions while strengthening detection and mitigation capabilities.
The aviation sector is also emphasising the use of alternative navigation aids whenever satellite-based systems show signs of unreliability.
