US EditionGPS jamming is emerging as an increasingly prevalent — and troubling — weapon of war
More than 1,100 commercial ships experienced GPS signal interference in the Persian Gulf within 24 hours, severely disrupting navigation and halting traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
- On February 28, Windward said GPS interference disrupted navigation on more than 1,100 commercial ships, halting traffic through the Strait of Hormuz where tanker transits fell around 90%.
- Experts explain jamming and spoofing broadcast false or noisy signals that corrupt GNSS receivers, which actors use to protect Iranian coastal assets, experts said.
- Map analysis revealed 35 jamming clusters and vessels falsely shown on airports, a nuclear plant, and in crop-circle patterns on AIS tracking maps.
- Rescue authorities warn emergency beacons may report wrong locations in spoofed zones, risking delayed rescues, while shipping companies face banks and insurers scrutinising spoofed routes, causing compliance headaches as some tankers reversed course or went dark.
- The episode tests long-term resilience of maritime navigation, experts say, as anti-spoofing receivers, encrypted signals, and upgrades for maritime and aviation sectors will take time and money.
14 Articles
14 Articles
In a world where GPS is key in the civil and military world, conflicts have turned it into a direct target. Spoofing or spoofing, with sending false signals and blocking or jamming, is a modus operating from state and non-state actors and has been proven in the Middle East, Ukraine or the Black Sea. These actions disorient aviation and navigation—with erroneous positions and failed alarms—and can neutralize drones, HIMARS missiles or Kinzhals ha…
Surge in GPS interference around Strait of Hormuz increases shipping risks
More than 1,100 vessels have been hit by GPS interference across the Middle East Gulf since the start of the conflict, according to maritime firm Windward. Experts warn these attacks pose severe risks to navigation and are contributing to the de facto blockade of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
GPS jamming and spoofing is becoming commonplace in war. “Sh...
GPS jamming and spoofing is becoming commonplace in war. “Ships in the region’s waters found their navigation systems had gone haywire, erroneously indicating that the vessels were at airports, a nuclear power plant and on Iranian land.”
Why Have 1,000 Ships At Times Lost Their GPS In The Mideast?
Bathers ride jet skis past anchored commercial vessels off the coast of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, March 2, 2026. — AFP The global positioning system (GPS) capabilities of cargo ships, oil tankers and other vessels stuck in the Middle East because of the widening war are likely worse than those in your cell phone. Experts say this deficiency explains why since the start of US-Israeli strikes, the jamming of satellite navigation signals has lef…
Following the US and Israeli attacks on Iran, electronic signal jamming activities have been detected in both the Strait of Hormuz and other regions. The navigation systems of hundreds of ships have been disrupted.
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