In a detailed disclosure to Parliament, the Indian government confirmed a surge in GPS spoofing and GNSS interference affecting aircraft operations near key international airports — raising red flags over aviation navigation safety in the country.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, responding to Rajya Sabha questions, said incidents have been reported from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Amritsar, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Chennai since the DGCA mandated reporting of suspected navigation interference in November 2023.
Aircraft on approach to Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) specifically experienced spoofing during satellite-assisted landings on Runway 10, prompting pilots to transition to pre-approved contingency procedures to maintain flight safety. Rest runways using conventional navigational aids operated without any disruption.
Special SOP Rolled Out for Rapid Reporting
To counter the growing frequency of alerts:
1. DGCA issued an advisory in late 2023.
2. A real-time reporting SOP was implemented on November 10, 2025.
3. Pilots and ATC must now file immediate alerts upon detecting irregular GPS signals.
Officials reiterated that India’s Minimum Operating Network (MON) ensures aircraft can safely operate even when satellite-based systems are degraded.
To identify the source of the rogue transmissions, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has brought in the Wireless Monitoring Organisation (WMO), which is deploying additional teams and analyzing signal-tracking data from aircraft and airport systems.
Cybersecurity threats are Under Government radar.
Naidu further stressed rising risks from malware and ransomware aiming Indian aviation infrastructure,
bearing in mind that cyberattacks might compound overall operational susceptibility, if left unchecked.
AAI is strengthening digital defenses to comply with guidelines issued by the National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC) and CERT-In, ensuring the integrity of air-traffic networks and communications systems.
Industry Perspective: A Wake-Up Call
Aviation experts say that while India’s layered safety system prevents operational breakdowns, frequent navigational interference highlights a growing security challenge as airports transition more heavily to satellite-guided procedures.
India joins a growing list of global aviation hubs — including those in the Middle East and Europe — confronting security risks linked to GNSS manipulation and radio-frequency interference.
FAQs: GPS Spoofing in Indian Aviation
Q1. What is GPS spoofing in aviation?
GPS spoofing involves broadcasting false positioning signals to mislead an aircraft’s navigation system. This can cause incorrect flight paths
or disrupt automated landing procedures.
Q2. Which airports in India are most affected?
Reports have come from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Amritsar, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Chennai, with notable incidents around IGIA Delhi
during runway approaches.
Q3. Are flights still safe during such interference?
Yes. Pilots are trained to immediately revert to alternative navigation systems. India maintains a ground-based MON network to ensure
uninterrupted safety.
Q4. Is this a cyberattack?
The government has not publicly confirmed the source but has acknowledged parallel cybersecurity threats targeting aviation networks.
Q5. What measures are being taken right now?
The DGCA and AAI have enhanced SOPs, monitoring mechanisms, cyber defenses, and field deployments to locate and neutralize the
signals causing interference.