Considering the Russia-Ukraine conflict, electronic warfare has become a major concern for governments, especially as it pertains to airfare. Russia and the Baltic area are where most of the interference seems to occur. As most modern planes rely on navigation systems that use satellite technology to pinpoint their positions, there has been growing concern surrounding the safety of these systems in an age where hacking poses a threat to many technological services. Unfortunately, one susceptible service is the current navigation services used for airplanes, which poses a significant concern as they could be easily hacked by malicious actors.

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History of Plane Hacking

Plane hacking has been a concern since navigation technology was implemented into planes, and as hacking becomes a common skill amongst malign actors. However, in recent news on March 14th, Grant Shapps, the UK’s Defence Secretary, had his RAF plane allegedly attacked by signal jamming after the navigation was supposedly tampered with by Russia.

The effects of navigation tampering are a major concern, specifically for planes flying over Russia and the Baltic area, as electronic warfare equipment has been felt from Norway all the way to Southern Poland. Multiple passenger airlines, such as Ryanair and Wizz Air, have reported several disruptions while flying over the Baltic. Ryanair has reported 2,300 flights that have been affected, Wizz Air 1,400, and British Airways 82.

With the amount of interference occurring and the danger it poses to commercial, passenger, and government planes, new technology for unhackable navigation systems would have a significant impact on the industry.

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This New Development…

The new technology being introduced is a self-contained system that does not have to rely on external satellites, leaving it less susceptible to hacking. This commercial world-first, led by Infleqtion along with other industry and academic partners, is funded by the government. In addition to over £2 billion from the National Quantum Strategy and National Quantum Technologies Programme, the technology is installed in commercial planes to provide another layer of protection from GPS jamming.

The technology demonstrates two significant breakthroughs in quantum technologies: the compact Tiqker optical atomic clock, which ensures continuous access to precise timing, and the tightly confined ultra-cold-atom-based quantum system. Both technologies together were used on QinetiQ’s RJ100 Airborne Technology Demonstrator, which had a successful test flight in May of this year. This technology will ultimately be combined with further components to create the Quantum Inertial Navigation System (Q-INS), which aims to offer a navigation system that runs with accuracy and resilience without relying on traditional satellites as many current navigation systems do.

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These new advancements demonstrate a large leap in navigation technology security, which, in light of the multitude of conflicts currently taking place, presents a welcome option to stop potential interference with planes. The Quantum Inertial Navigation System (Q-INS) stands out as a promising solution to counteract the vulnerabilities of traditional satellite-based navigation systems. By offering a self-contained, highly accurate, and resilient navigation method, it mitigates the risks posed by GPS jamming and hacking attempts.

This breakthrough not only enhances the safety and reliability of military and commercial flights but also paves the way for further innovations in quantum technology applications. As geopolitical tensions continue to influence global security strategies, the integration of Q-INS could become a standard for ensuring the integrity of aerial navigation systems, safeguarding both passengers and critical operations from emerging electronic warfare threats.

©Lawrence Power 2024