In a shocking development, defense sources have confirmed a major cyber attack attempt on an Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft mid-flight. The target was plane’s satellite navigation system.
The IAF jet was reportedly traveling to Myanmar for a relief and rescue mission following a devastating earthquake in the final week of March when the incident occurred.
The aircraft was subjected to a GPS spoofing attack in the middle of the flight.
In this method, attackers send false navigation signals to the aircraft’s onboard systems to confuse them. Learn more about GPS spoofing techniques used in modern cyber attacks.
The Objective?
To take over the plane’s flight path and blind the satellite-based navigation.
But thanks to the quick-thinking and specialized training of the IAF pilots, disaster was averted. The spoofing attempt was foiled as soon as the crew switched to the aircraft’s internal navigation system, preserving a safe flight path.
Why It’s Important?
The attack took place over Myanmar airspace, raising serious questions, especially considering the region’s proximity to China.
Experts have long warned about rising cyber threats near the India-Pakistan and Indo-China borders.
Since November 2023, a staggering 465 cyber attacks have been reported targeting Indian defense and civil aviation systems.
IAF officials are treating this as an act of high-level cyber warfare, and an investigation is underway to determine the origin of the spoofed signals.
“Such GPS spoofing incidents have previously been noted, but this was a sophisticated attempt during an active humanitarian mission. The pilots’ ability to identify the spoof and take swift action speaks volumes about their preparedness.” said one Defense Analyst.
