insider brief
The Financial Times reported that the reliability of GPS (Global Positioning System) is increasingly being undermined by intentional interference. Meanwhile, academic, government, and commercial partnerships have shown that recent advances in quantum technology can lead to uninterrupted communications. Although there are still challenges and work to be done, this recent demonstration of quantum navigation shows that a solution may be on the way.
As an example of journalistic simultaneity, two articles appeared in the press today. And although it was a coincidence, they were deeply connected.
In an excellent article in the Financial Times, reporters provided evidence that in recent years the reliability of GPS (Global Positioning System) has been increasingly undermined by deliberate interference. GPS jamming and spoofing is on the rise, especially in areas with increased military activity, causing significant disruption to civilian life and essential services.
Jamming is the intentional interference of a GPS signal by overwhelming it with noise, while spoofing is the sending of a fake GPS signal to mislead the receiver about its true location.
However, recent advances in quantum technology, such as those demonstrated in the UK detailed in this article, could lead to uninterrupted communications and could be a promising solution to this growing problem.
GPS crisis
According to the FT, GPS has become an essential part of modern life, providing essential services for navigation and timing in use cases across a variety of sectors and industries, including aviation, shipping, banking, and emergency services. However, a number of instances of intentional signal interference have exposed the system's vulnerabilities.
The FT reports that GPS jamming and spoofing have historically been used by militaries to protect sensitive locations and conceal their activities, but are now increasingly impacting civilians. Masu. For example, since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and Israel's recent attack on Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the manipulation of GPS signals has expanded dramatically. This can cause strange situations such as ships appearing to be sailing on land, navigational disturbances forcing aircraft to turn mid-air, and critical services such as ride-sharing and food delivery apps being disrupted. A potentially dangerous situation has occurred.
Around 40 million people lived in areas where GPS signals were unreliable for at least half of the past six months, according to Flightradar24 data analyzed by the Financial Times. Areas with the highest levels of interference include Turkey's capital Ankara, the entire Black Sea coast, Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, several major cities in Iraq, and war-torn areas of Myanmar. Heavy interference is commonplace in some cities with important military installations, such as St. Petersburg in Russia and Lahore in Pakistan.
This confusion is more than just a nuisance. They pose serious risks, the FT reports. For example, the Department of Defense's “Harmonious Rook” project recognizes that GPS interference is a significant global concern and aims to create a comprehensive map of GPS interference. The increased frequency of jamming incidents over major cities has created an alarming situation where pilots become confused about their location and have to request turn-by-turn instructions from air traffic control.
quantum solutions
Among these challenges, quantum technology offers solutions. In a related note, the UK has successfully completed commercial flight trials of an advanced quantum-based navigation system that is immune to jamming and spoofing. These breakthrough systems promise to revolutionize positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) by providing a highly accurate and resilient alternative to traditional satellite-based navigation .
Infleqtion, one of the leaders in this type of quantum technology, recently collaborated with aerospace companies BAE Systems and QinetiQ on a series of test flights showcasing two innovative quantum technologies that can reduce reliance on GPS. Has completed. It is a compact Tiqker optical atomic clock and a confined ultracold atom-based quantum system. Both technologies were tested on his QinetiQ RJ100 Airborne Technology Demonstrator.
At the heart of this new navigation system is the Quantum Inertial Navigation System (Q-INS), which leverages the superior precision of quantum accelerometers and gyroscopes. These devices use ultracold atoms cooled to temperatures close to absolute zero to measure motion with unprecedented precision. Unlike GPS, which relies on satellite signals that can be jammed and spoofed, Q-INS operates independently, making it more resistant to interference.
The UK government is investing heavily in the technology, contributing nearly £8 million to the project. The funding is part of the wider £2.5bn National Quantum Strategy, which aims to establish the UK as a leader in quantum-enabled technologies. Science Minister Andrew Griffiths highlighted the potential impact of the research, saying it could provide the resilience needed to protect critical navigation systems from disruption.
Clearly, this is only the first step and challenges remain. For example, developing quantum navigation systems that are small, portable, and affordable enough for commercial use will be a major challenge. These technologies typically require precise conditions such as extremely low temperatures, which can be difficult to maintain outside of a laboratory environment.
Additionally, this equipment is expensive and the equipment is highly complex, requiring advanced knowledge to construct, maintain, and operate. Last, and certainly not least, work needs to be done to make quantum navigation robust and reliable for real-world use.
Fortunately, researchers are much further along than many experts expected. Quantum navigation is still a relatively new field, and ongoing research will help address these challenges. This research and development could lead to more efficient quantum sensors, improved error correction methods, and finding ways to mass produce these systems.
