The Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with a private firm for 20 enhanced capability Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) jammers. Valued at Rs 449 crore, with 75% indigenous content, the deal falls under the Buy Indian-Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured (IDDM) category. This marks a significant step in strengthening India’s maritime security and electronic warfare capabilities.
How These Jammers Work
These jammers are designed to degrade an adversary's GNSS receivers of systems such as the American GPS, European Galileo, China's BeiDou, and the Russian GLONASS by disrupting satellite signals. They can also employ spoofing techniques to mislead enemy systems. Their induction will enhance the Indian Navy’s ability to operate safely in multi-threat environments, where reliance on GNSS is critical.
Global Dependence on GNSS
Globally, modern militaries depend heavily on GNSS for precision targeting, navigation, and communication. On land, GPS enables tracking of friendly forces to prevent fratricide and helps improve accuracy of weapon systems. Tactical networks rely on GPS timing for synchronized communications. At sea, GPS integrates with inertial navigation to correct drift, while missiles depend on GPS guidance. In aviation, GPS transforms unguided bombs into precision weapons through JDAM kits, guides UAVs via waypoints, and supports coalition air traffic control.
Rising GPS Interference Incidents
India’s move comes amid rising GPS interference and spoofing incidents, with over 465 cases reported between 2023 and 2025 in sensitive air corridors such as Delhi, Amritsar, and Jammu. Recently, a similar spoofing attack was carried out during the visit of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Spoofing poses a serious threat, capable of misleading aircraft, undermining surveillance, and endangering civilian lives without direct confrontation.
Indigenous Expertise and Strategic Impact
By deploying enhanced capability GNSS jammers, India is not only countering these vulnerabilities but also building indigenous expertise in electronic warfare. This initiative strengthens deterrence, ensures operational resilience across land, sea, and air, and positions India to safeguard its aerospace and maritime domains against asymmetric threats.
