Saab integrates resilient GNSS receiver in their air traffic management system

Saab-critical-infrastructure-air-traffic-management-(ATM)-system-powered-by-septentrio-GNSS-receivers

Saab validated Septentrio receivers at the JammerTest in Norway to ensure anti-jamming and anti-spoofing resilience for their air traffic management system.

Aviation stakeholders across the world are using Saab’s Air Traffic Management (ATM) systems to conduct safe flight operations. Saab’s Cooperative Surveillance System incorporates multiple sensors to provide Multilateration and ADS-B surveillance. These sensors rely on GNSS timestamps for accurate synchronization. ADS-B stands for Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast, and it is a key technology used in ATM to enhance aircraft surveillance and improve safety and efficiency in in the air and on the airport surface.

As seen on the news, airports around the world face an increasingly higher risk of GNSS jamming and spoofing, especially in countries that are near conflict zones where GNSS interference can spill over and propagate for over 100 km. To harden their system against GNSS jamming and spoofing, Saab selected a Septentrio receiver, which is protected by AIM+ Advanced Interference Mitigation technology. Saab demonstrated just how resilient their solution could be under live jamming and spoofing conditions at JammerTest in Anodya, Norway, where powerful interference testing was conducted in a controlled environment.  

Although they may not realize it, each year hundreds of millions of passengers rely upon Saab’s air traffic management systems to get where they are going safely. Most of these systems in turn rely upon GPS/GNSS for positioning and time synchronization. With so much at stake, Saab is proud to offer industry leading anti-spoofing and anti-jamming capabilities using Septentrio equipment. Saab and Septentrio’s recent collaboration at JammerTest showcased just how effective we can be together.

Robert Brown
Director of Portfolio, Sales and Strategy at Saab Air Traffic Management
Saab Air Traffic Management systems use the most reliable GNSS technology, especially because of the threats of GNSS jamming and spoofing today.

Each year JammerTest brings together experts from across the globe to look at Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) vulnerability with the goal of bringing more robust solutions to market.  

Avinor, Norwegian air navigation service provider and Saab’s longtime customer, invited Saab to attend JammerTest to validate the performance of their technology. Sean Davidson and Jeff Thompson travelled above the Arctic circle with Saab's sensor system, utilizing Septentrio’s AsteRx SB3, to participate in the event. 

Together Saab and Avinor collected data from a wide range of GNSS jamming and spoofing scenarios to evaluate the current performance of Saab's Cooperative Surveillance System (CSS) multilateration and ADS-B sensors. They also had the opportunity to evaluate new technologies, including AsteRx SB3, to further harden Saab's surveillance products against the GNSS jamming and spoofing. Test results concluded that the combined Saab and Septentrio solution could withstand various forms of interference under live jamming and spoofing conditions.   

Please see JammerTest report for more details about Septentrio receiver’s results from the JammerTest in Norway.

SAAB air traffic management testing Septentrio receiver during JammerTest in Norway
Saab validated resilience of their Septentrio receiver at the JammerTest in Norway, where it was tested under live jamming and spoofing interference for several days.

Why Saab chose for Septentrio GNSS receivers for their air traffic management system:

  • Multi-frequency GNSS technology with access to all available satellite constellations and signals 
  • Time synchronization functionality with nanosecond accuracy, used to ensure that ground station sensor data is in sync and is also aligned with aircraft data 
  • AIM+ anti-jamming technology for reliable operation in areas at risk to radio interference and near areas of electronic warfare  
  • AIM+ anti-spoofing technology, including Galileo OSNMA, for operation in areas near contested GNSS environments 

 

Saab Air Traffic Management System logo

Saab serves the global market with world-leading products, services and solutions from military defence in all domains to civil security. Saab’s market offering is broad and consists of complex systems involving extensive research and development as well as high availability services. With operations on every continent, Saab continuously develops, adapts and improves new technology to meet customers’ changing needs.