A survey on GNSS anti-jamming technologies for civil aircraft: threats, approaches, and future trends

Abstract

Modern civil aviation relies fundamentally on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) for navigation, surveillance, and timing. However, the extreme weakness of satellite signals reaching the Earth's surface renders them highly susceptible to radio frequency interference (RFI). This survey provides a systematic examination of the diverse interference threats—specifically jamming and spoofing—and their distinct signal signatures that challenge civil aircraft operations. To address these vulnerabilities, we introduce a comprehensive, four-tiered defense architecture: the antenna layer, the baseband signal processing layer, the algorithmic processing layer, and the system-level fusion layer. We detail the core technologies within each tier, providing the mathematical principles of key algorithms such as MVDR beamforming and tightly coupled Kalman filtering. Furthermore, we critically analyze the limitations of current technologies regarding Size, Weight, Power, and Cost (SWaP-C), certification challenges, and resilience against advanced spoofing. Our analysis confirms that an integrated, multi-layered approach is essential for ensuring the safety and reliability of GNSS-dependent navigation in the increasingly contested electromagnetic environment of civil aviation.