NavWaC

Aspects and requirements for a Navigation Warfare Centre in Austria

Aims

• Investigation of the requirements and skills of a navigation warfare centre in Austria
• Development of navigation warfare scenarios, test plans and procedures
• Analysis of the possibilities to realize these scenarios in consideration of different parameters
• Modular and flexible design of the modules for the field application
• Suitability and efficiency of the navigation warfare centre
• Proof-of-concept demonstration
  • Performance of combined jamming/spoofing attacks
  • Consideration of terrestrial techniques
• Preparation of a roadmap as preparation of a feasible implementation

Brief Description

The greater the dependence on Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT), the greater the risk of unintentional and intentional disruptions and interference. The goal of navigation warfare is the geographically limited disruption of (satellite-based) PNT information of an enemy, while ensuring the resilience of the own systems. The use of jamming transmitters in the civil environment is still mainly limited to jamming. However, since the use of GNSS and PNT will continue to increase in the future, it can be assumed that jamming and spoofing – the deliberate manipulation of PNT information – will continue to increase. Navigation warfare would therefore also affect the use of navigation systems in the public domain and for each individual. The consequences of a GNSS interference attack are, in addition to a total loss of PNT capabilities, also increasing the own risk, collateral damage and leadership problems and were examined during research projects and successful demonstrated, among other locations, at the military training grounds of the Austrian Federal Armed Forces. This unique ability to perform GNSS interference test campaigns in reality and to develop new technologies and procedures based on the test results has given Austria international prestige.

In the context of the project NavWac, the aspects and requirements for a navigation warfare centre in Austria will be elaborated and the added value will be tested as part of a proof-of-concept. By using the navigation warfare test centre, it is possible to test and quantify and assess the threats and risks in case of PNT disruptions and to test countermeasures as well as counterattacks. This makes it possible to train PNT users in a well-defined test framework using realistic scenarios and to train them accordingly and thus to provide protection against navigation warfare.