Moscow blamed for disruption of GPS systems at Ben Gurion
Airport
Israeli officials say interference caused by Russian
military in Syria; Russian embassy dismisses accusation as 'fake
news'
An airplane drives along the runway at Ben Gurion
International Airport, on May 8, 2018. (Flash90)
Israeli officials
on Thursday accused Russia of responsibility for the ongoing disruptions to the
satellite navigation systems of airplanes flying around Ben Gurion International
Airport.
The Russian embassy in Israel dismissed the allegations as "fake
news" that they "couldn't respond to seriously."
The issue has not yet
caused any accidents or safety incidents, but has a "significant impact on all
aspects of operating a plane from the cockpit, as well as on managing air
traffic," the Airports Authority said in a statement Wednesday.
The
interference with the airplanes' GPS reception appears to stem from a form of
electronic warfare known as "spoofing," which Russia has been accused of doing
in the past as a defensive measure, despite the disruptions it causes to nearby
aircraft and ships.
The interference appears to originate in Syria, where
Russian troops and aircraft are fighting on behalf of the country's dictator,
Bashar Assad, Israeli officials said, speaking on condition of
anonymity.
The Israel Defense Forces refused to comment publicly on the
source of the interference, but said it has not affected its
operations.
"The issue is of civilian concern and the IDF provides
technological support in order to facilitate freedom of movement within Israel's
airspace," the army said. "The IDF operates continuously to maintain operational
freedom of movement and superiority in the electromagnetic spectrum."
The
Israeli Airline Pilots Association said Russia's spoofing was a fairly advanced
method of feeding GPS receivers with incorrect location data by a transmitter,
making it appear to the pilot as though the aircraft is in a different location,
sometimes miles away. As the GPS receiver continues to show location
information, it does not immediately appear as a malfunction.
"This type
of blocking requires great technical knowledge and high mechanical capability,
which is not possessed by individuals or organizations," the association wrote
on Twitter.
Since the interference began, planes in Israel have had to
use an alternative method for landings, known as the Instrument Landing
System.
"It is a safe and professional method that is used every day in
airports around the world, including Israel," the Airports Authority
said.
The GPS reception problem only affects airplanes in the sky, not
sensors on the ground.
"Ben Gurion Airport controllers have been giving
full guidance to planes that are taking off and landing. At no point has there
been a safety incident connected to this GPS interference or related to
navigation instructions or flight paths," the airports spokesman
said.
GPS spoofing problems have been reported in Russia in the past. In
June 2017, over 20 ships experienced GPS interference while sailing through the
Black Sea, showing the vessels to be 25 nautical miles (46.3 kilometers) closer
to the shore than they actually were and in some cases on land. Similar
anomalies have been reported around the Kremlin and Putin's
Palace.
Researchers have surmised that Russian officials use GPS spoofing
as a protective measure for Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to
Norwegian news outlet NRKbeta. During the GPS interference in the Black Sea,
Putin was located nearby, inspecting a natural gas pipeline.
Areas in
Norway and Finland close to the Russian border have also reported this type of
GPS interference.
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