The threat involves electronic warfare (EW) techniques that interfere with or jam Global Positioning System (GPS) signals, which are critical for positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services across many commercial sectors. While traditionally a concern for aviation, the scope has expanded to include shipping, trucking, car navigation, agriculture, and financial services that rely heavily on precise timing for transactions. GPS signals are inherently weak and susceptible to jamming or spoofing by relatively low-cost electronic devices, making them attractive targets for disruption. This interference can cause loss of signal lock, degraded accuracy, or complete denial of GPS services, leading to operational delays, safety hazards, and financial losses. Although no specific vulnerabilities or exploits have been identified, the threat is categorized as a medium severity issue due to the broad impact and critical nature of GPS dependency. The lack of patches or direct fixes means mitigation focuses on resilience strategies, such as integrating alternative PNT sources (e.g., inertial navigation systems, eLoran), signal authentication techniques, and real-time monitoring for anomalies. The threat landscape is evolving with increasing geopolitical tensions and the proliferation of electronic warfare capabilities, raising the risk for European commercial sectors that rely on GPS.

For European organizations, the impact of GPS interference can be significant. Shipping companies operating in busy European ports and maritime routes could face navigation disruptions, increasing the risk of accidents or delays. Trucking and logistics firms dependent on GPS for route optimization and fleet management may experience inefficiencies and increased operational costs. Precision agriculture, which uses GPS for automated machinery and crop management, could suffer reduced yields or increased labor costs. Financial institutions relying on GPS for accurate timestamping of transactions could face compliance and operational risks. The disruption of GPS timing signals could also affect telecommunications networks and power grids, leading to broader infrastructure instability. The cumulative effect could degrade economic productivity and safety across multiple sectors, emphasizing the need for robust mitigation and contingency planning.

European organizations should implement multi-layered mitigation strategies to address GPS interference risks. These include deploying complementary PNT technologies such as inertial navigation systems, eLoran, or terrestrial radio navigation to reduce sole reliance on GPS. Investing in GPS receivers with anti-jamming and anti-spoofing capabilities enhances signal resilience. Real-time monitoring and anomaly detection systems can alert operators to GPS disruptions promptly. Organizations should develop operational procedures for GPS outages, including manual navigation protocols and fallback timing sources. Collaboration with national and European authorities to share threat intelligence and coordinate responses is essential. Critical infrastructure sectors should conduct regular risk assessments and resilience testing against GPS interference scenarios. Finally, raising awareness among stakeholders about the vulnerabilities of GPS and the importance of diversified navigation and timing solutions is crucial.