Silent Threat In Indian Skies? GPS Spoofing Bases Found In Neighbouring Countries ...

Findings from different technical assessments conducted by Indian agencies indicate that bases used to execute GPS spoofing operations have been established in at least three of India’s neighbouring countries, with the required infrastructure already in place, top sources told News18.

Sources within the cyber security grid also said there are indications of direct backing from cyber-attack groups based in one of India’s neighbouring countries. Such groups, known for carrying out similar threats, are being traced as part of the ongoing investigation, according to officials familiar with the assessment.

The group is understood to specialise in the exact type of cyber operations currently being investigated and has previously been associated with sophisticated electronic and cyber-enabled attacks targeting critical infrastructure.

“In this context, I would like to point out that signs of GPS spoofing activity have been detected in flights traversing Asian network corridors, particularly along the ‘Express’ routes, within the airspace of specific locations and neighbouring regional countries," Khushhal Kaushik, ethical hacker, Founder & CEO Lisianthus Tech and Director General of the Cyber Security Association of India, told News18.

Sources said there is evidence suggesting that such actors may be leveraging communications and airspace-related networks across multiple Asian countries, including Pakistan and Myanmar, as part of their operational infrastructure.

Officials cautioned that the assessment remains under investigation and that agencies are continuing to monitor for additional indicators before any final attribution is made.

The findings come amid a sharp rise in GPS interference incidents affecting India’s civil aviation sector. Government data shows that reported cases have increased by more than 240 per cent on a monthly average basis, making GPS spoofing an emerging aviation security concern.

Kaushik said there is growing concern that cyber attackers located in neighbouring regions could misuse space-based or satellite-supported network infrastructure to launch spoofing attacks. “The objective of such attacks could be to disrupt aviation systems, create safety risks, and damage the nation’s international reputation," he said.

According to information provided by the Ministry of Civil Aviation in Parliament earlier this year, airlines reported 2,354 GPS interference incidents between November 2023 and December 2025, followed by 623 incidents in just the first two months of 2026.

The figures show that the average number of reported incidents rose from approximately 91 per month to 312 per month, representing an increase of 244 per cent.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has already issued advisories and operational procedures for reporting Global Satellite System (GNSS) interference events, while the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has coordinated with the Wireless Monitoring Organisation (WMO) to investigate reported cases.

GPS spoofing is a form of electronic or cyber attack in which counterfeit satellite signals are transmitted to deceive a receiver into calculating an incorrect location, speed, altitude or time.

Unlike GPS jamming, which blocks signals, spoofing manipulates them. In aviation, this can cause aircraft systems to display false positioning information, potentially affecting , flight planning and situational awareness.

According to Kaushik, who has worked with the armed forces and central agencies, vulnerable systems must be strengthened.

“Our primary focus must now be on identifying vulnerabilities and fortifying affected systems. Unless these security gaps are addressed, such attacks could recur, posing a persistent threat to operational safety, national security and the country’s reputation," he said.