Threats · Threat Class
GNSS Jamming
Radio-frequency interference intentionally transmitted to overpower or degrade a GPS/GNSS receiver's ability to acquire or track satellite signals, denying accurate position and timing rather than falsifying it. Operating, marketing, selling or importing a jamming device in the United States is a federal crime under the Communications Act, enforced by the FCC — there is no personal, business, or vehicle-use exemption.
Radio-frequency interference intentionally transmitted to overpower or degrade a GPS/GNSS receiver’s ability to acquire or track satellite signals, denying accurate position and timing rather than falsifying it. Operating, marketing, selling or importing a jamming device in the United States is a federal crime under the Communications Act, enforced by the FCC — there is no personal, business, or vehicle-use exemption.
Key facts
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Threat type | Denial (signal-to-noise overpower) |
| Primary target frequency | GPS L1 (1575.42 MHz) |
| Legal status (US) | Federal crime — no exemptions (Communications Act / FCC enforcement) |
| Effect | Loss of GNSS position/time fix |
| Reported hotspots | Conflict-zone-adjacent airspace, per public FAA guidance |
Why it matters operationally
DHS/CISA’s public Resilient PNT program treats jamming and spoofing as the two headline threats to positioning, navigation and timing for U.S. critical infrastructure, distinct from each other in mechanism (denial vs. falsification) but often discussed together in public guidance.
Public examples
- Consumer/commercial GPS “jammers” the FCC’s own enforcement program actively investigates and seizes
- Reported jamming activity concentrated around conflict zones (e.g. the Black Sea and parts of the Middle East), per FAA safety guidance to civil aviation operators
Sources
- Information About GPS Jamming — GPS.gov (National Coordination Office for Space-Based PNT)
- Jammer Enforcement — Federal Communications Commission
- Resilient PNT for Critical Infrastructure — U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Science and Technology Directorate
Related in threats
Frequently asked
What is GNSS Jamming?
Radio-frequency interference intentionally transmitted to overpower or degrade a GPS/GNSS receiver's ability to acquire or track satellite signals, denying accurate position and timing rather than falsifying it. Operating, marketing, selling or importing a jamming device in the United States is a federal crime under the Communications Act, enforced by the FCC — there is no personal, business, or vehicle-use exemption.
Why does GNSS Jamming matter for counter-UAS?
DHS/CISA's public Resilient PNT program treats jamming and spoofing as the two headline threats to positioning, navigation and timing for U.S. critical infrastructure, distinct from each other in mechanism (denial vs. falsification) but often discussed together in public guidance.