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GPS jammed? No issue. New software may change drone warfare forever

March 25, 2025
- New software is offering drone pilots the capability to fly when GPS is lost or jammed. Experts say it could be a game changer in modern conflicts.
- The company behind the new software is Maxar, which specializes in satellite imagery.
- The new software will create a 3D map of nearly 35 square miles of terrain.
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Companies continue to develop new technology in drone warfare. Now, Maxar Technologies is showcasing its new software, which can provide drone crews with pinpoint, real-time location data even when GPS signals from satellites are disrupted.

What is Maxar saying?

Maxar said on Tuesday, March 25, it is a “first-of-its-kind” software running under the moniker “Raptor.”

The new drone helps pilots find “accurate ground coordinates” when GPS isn’t available or jammed.

Maxar’s general manager said the new software will be the wave of the future and that it’s already proven vital in modern conflicts.

Why is the technology important?

For instance, in Ukraine, satellite data is critical for drone crews right now trying to coordinate strikes behind enemy lines, while counter-drone systems are just as crucial to combatting them.

Spoofing GPS coordinates, or making any enemy’s sensor think something is there when it isn’t, is an effective tactic against drone warfare, and that’s where Raptor comes in.

How does it work?

Raptor can lay out an “extremely accurate” three-dimensional map covering nearly 35 square miles and put together a copy of what Maxar’s general manager calls a “digital twin of the world.”

Once the map is created, pilots can fly their drones with a superimposed 3D map over the landscape while updating the location and exact coordinates.

The technology can help pilots pinpoint a location within roughly three yards of the target, which is within NATO guidelines for accuracy.

How did the company test the drone?

The company said it has tested the technology in several countries, including trials in active conflict zones it wasn’t willing to name.

Maxar said its software is available for anything from hobby drones to uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) and, importantly, it is capable of operating at night.

A U.K. drone expert said this software could be a game changer, especially if enemies target Global Satellite Systems (GSS) in an attack, rendering GPS useless.
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Colorado police hand out AirTags to help recover stolen cars

January 21, 2025
Police in Colorado are using a common piece of technology to help track stolen cars and prevent thefts. The Arvada Police Department, located about 30 minutes northwest of Denver, handed out free Apple AirTags and Tile devices to residents during a recent giveaway.

Each AirTag and Tile device includes a sticker warning to potential thieves: This vehicle is equipped with a GPS tracker.

What do vehicle theft numbers look like in Colorado?

Data shows Colorado ranks among the top 10 states for motor vehicle theft in the U.S., with nearly 34,000 vehicles reported stolen in 2023. While officers have successfully recovered more than 22,000 of them, the new trackers could help law enforcement reach a 100% clearance rate while reducing thefts altogether.

If a car equipped with one of the trackers is stolen, the Arvada Police Department’s website says residents can share the vehicle’s location, allowing officers to quickly recover it.

What’s the fine print?

Officials emphasize that officers will never have direct access to the GPS information, and each tracker is handed out with no obligations. The AirTags, which retail for about $30 each, gained widespread attention in 2021 for their ability to track stolen items, from luggage to presidential campaign signs.

However, AirTags have also drawn criticism for their potential misuse in stalking. Apple has implemented additional security measures to protect individuals from being tracked without their consent.

Police departments in Washington, D.C., and New York have already adopted similar technology, relying on GPS trackers like AirTags to help recover stolen vehicles. The trend is catching on as cities across the country look for new ways to combat theft.
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New tech aims to take over enemy drones: Weapon of the Week

November 13, 2024
In today’s battlespace, drones have become as ubiquitous as armored vehicles, fighter jets and aircraft carriers, forming an essential part of any military force’s strategy. While defenses against traditional warfare methods are well-established, counter-drone defense is a rapidly evolving field.

This is where the EnforceAir2 from D-Fend Solutions comes into play.

A quick search on social media reveals numerous clips of Ukraine’s drone operators causing significant damage to Russian troops and equipment. Counter-drone manufacturers like D-Fend Solutions aim to mitigate such destruction with innovative solutions like the EnforceAir2.

“What we’re known for is the actual RF cyber takeover. We’ll take over the drone. The drone now has a new master, if you will, and it’s landed safely in a pre-designated zone and in a military environment where, of course, that is allowed and performed by qualified staff,” Jeffrey Starr, CMO of D-Fend Solutions said.

Counter-drone defenses typically fall into nine categories:
- EMP or HPM technology.
- Directional jammers.
- Global navigation satellite spoofing.
- Handheld jammers.
- Kinetic solutions.
- Laser-based systems.
- Omnidirectional jammers.
- Radiofrequency jammers.
- RF cyber-based takeover technology.
The EnforceAir2 specializes in takeover technology.

“It’s based on a deep understanding of the communication protocols of the drone,” Starr says. “So an unauthorized or hostile drone enters the protected area, we can immediately detect it, and we set off an alert to all the operators. From that point on, we’re tracking it closely, including the pilot and the takeoff position.”

This takeover approach not only reduces limitations found in early counter-drone technology but also provides valuable intelligence.

“We’re identifying the drone’s make, model, manufacture, serial number, and capabilities to determine if it’s friendly or unauthorized,” Starr adds. “This identification leads to effective mitigation.”

Starr emphasizes that this method protects friendly forces and gathers intel on adversaries.

“You can capture the drone and the intelligence associated with it very precisely, avoiding collateral damage, disruption, and operational disturbance. Above all, you maintain continuity,” he said.

The EnforceAir2’s adaptability is another key feature. It can be deployed tactically, vehicularly, or stationarily and even operates from a backpack.

“The backpack version is our latest,” Starr notes. “We’ll continue to reduce the footprint and enhance portability. As new drone threats emerge, we must overcome them.”

D-Fend Solutions operates in 27 countries, providing counter-drone protection in defense, homeland security, law enforcement, and critical infrastructure. They are also working to pass legislation to make their technology available to state and local authorities in the U.S.

Access the full Weapons and Warfare episode here.

Access all Weapons and Warfare podcast episodes here.
South Korea warns Pyongyang over dangerous GPS disruptions

November 12, 2024
North Korea has disrupted GPS signals near the South Korean border for five consecutive days, affecting flights and vessel operations, South Korea’s military reported Tuesday, Nov. 12. Officials believe the interference is tied to Pyongyang’s ongoing military exercises aimed at countering drones.

The disruptions were detected in areas near the border cities of Kaesong and Haeju. While weaker than similar incidents earlier this year, the jamming has caused operational issues for civilian aviation and shipping.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff condemned the activity, calling it a threat to safety and urging North Korea to cease immediately.

The incidents are the latest in a series of unconventional provocations by North Korea. Earlier this year, Pyongyang launched campaigns using balloons to carry trash and anti-South Korean propaganda across the border.

These actions disrupted operations at Incheon International Airport multiple times. Experts said this highlights vulnerabilities in South Korea’s critical infrastructure.

In October, North Korea destroyed sections of unused road and rail routes connecting the two Koreas in a symbolic rejection of reconciliation. North Korea also conducted an intercontinental ballistic missile test aimed at increasing pressure on the U.S. and its allies.

South Korean officials have raised concerns over North Korea’s growing military alignment with Russia. Pyongyang has reportedly provided Moscow with military equipment and personnel to support Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Analysts warn the partnership could allow North Korea to acquire advanced technology for its nuclear and missile programs, escalating regional security threats.

South Korea called for accountability, stating North Korea’s actions endanger lives and violate international safety laws. The ongoing provocations have heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula, as officials continue to monitor the situation.
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Ex-Google CEO wants AI drones in modern warfare, calls tanks ‘useless’

October 30, 2024

Google’s former CEO, Eric Schmidt, has called on the U.S. military to replace its tanks with AI-powered drones, arguing these autonomous technologies offer significant cost and strategic advantages over traditional armored vehicles. Speaking at the Future Investment Initiative conference in Saudi Arabia, Schmidt emphasized drones could eventually render tanks, artillery and mortars obsolete.

Schmidt launched a startup to produce autonomous, GPS-resistant drones. He pointed out the disparity in cost between a drone and a tank.

“A $5,000 drone can destroy a $5 million tank. Give them away, right? Buy drones instead. In fact, buy 10, buy 20, buy 50, buy 100,” Schmidt said.

Schmidt has a background as a former chair of both the U.S. Defense Innovation Board and the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence. Schmidt has been a longstanding advocate for advancing defense technology.

He has previously suggested that the rapid development of AI could reshape military capabilities as profoundly as nuclear advancements did in the 20th century.

Despite the potential that Schmidt sees in drones, he expressed frustration over what he described as the slow pace of adaptation within Western militaries. He highlighted the rapid innovation observed in the Ukraine-Russia conflict, where both sides have continually updated their drone tactics.

While Schmidt’s views have gained traction, some military analysts urge caution. They argue that traditional weaponry, such as tanks, retains significant value when backed by strong logistics and sound tactical planning.

In Ukraine, tanks remain pivotal, illustrating that while drones bring new capabilities, conventional armored platforms still play a role in modern combat strategies.
GPS spoofing incidents rise by 400% as pilots warn of dangers: Report

September 23, 2024
Pilots are warning about a growing international problem that could have tragic consequences, GPS spoofing, a warfare tactic to throw off the position of the enemy. The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, Sept. 23, that commercial flights are now being increasingly impacted by GPS spoofing, with incidents rising by 400% in the past six months.

Spoofing typically uses radio transmitters to disrupt GPS signals and displays fake coordinates on devices.

Spoofing cases have gone from dozens a day in February to more than 1,100 cases per day in August, and the cyberattacks are spreading beyond warzones near Ukraine and the Middle East into places like Cyprus and Estonia, causing glitches in commercial airplanes heavily reliant on GPS technology.

Pilots said spoofing has led to false warnings of incoming collisions and even misdirected flights.

While pilots are trained to deal with these situations by using non-GPS systems as backup, airlines and aircraft manufacturers are scrambling to figure out a solution to the problem, including new equipment standards to harden commercial aircraft defense against spoofing, which industry experts are pleading to be fast-tracked. However, it doesn’t appear those changes are unlikely to come until next year at the earliest.

Experts cited dangerous encounters as reasons to fast track a solution, like a private jet flying into hostile Iranian airspace by mistake because of spoofed GPS signal in 2023, and a Boeing 787 forced to abort two landings after it lost GPS signal.

In the short-term, industry and government officials are in talks about new procedures allowing pilots to reset cockpit circuit breakers when they get “spoofed.”

So far, industry experts note that there are no widespread incidents reported yet in the United States.
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Scientists edge closer to better internet and navigation with nuclear clocks

September 5, 2024
Even with current technology, scientists continue to work on how to keep track of time. Nuclear clocks could be a vital step toward faster internet speeds and more precise GPS navigation.

A new report published in Nature reveals how researchers are making strides toward developing a nuclear clock. Currently, the world relies on atomic clocks. These work by turning laser light to specific frequencies, causing electrons to jump between energy levels. These atoms, the building blocks of matter, are what makes precise timekeeping possible.

Nuclear clocks go a step further. Instead of using signals from electrons, a nuclear clock would rely on the nucleus, where protons and neutrons are densely packed. It’s this area scientists believe can assist them in even more precise timekeeping.

While no nuclear clock has been completed yet, all the essential technology is in place. Far more accurate than current atomic clocks, there could be major upgrades in store for critical pieces of technology, such as GPS systems and internet synchronization.

Hurdles still exist on the way to these clocks, such as how most atomic nuclei require powerful X-rays to make the energy jumps needed for the clock to work. That adjoining technology isn’t quite here yet.

In their latest tests, researchers managed to create a device with a level of precision 1 million times greater than previous measurements. They even compared their results to one of the world’s most accurate atomic clocks. That marked the first time a direct frequency link between nuclear transitions and atomic clocks has been established.

Some day soon, nuclear clocks could change the face of many pieces of technology. It could change the way people navigate and keep time forever.
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