GPS-denied environments

[Frostiken]

One threat that's quickly becoming a problem for modern Air Forces are GPS jammers. Despite encryption, frequencies for GPS signals are known and due to their low signal strength means that they can be susceptible to barrage jamming. The results should be obvious - EGI will lose alignment (this is actually represented on many aircraft as error rate in feet), JDAMs would be effectively useless, and reliance on L/L / UTM coordinates will make things infinitely harder, requiring targeting using more conventional methods or bullseyes.

 

So. How about it? Maybe too much for DCS: A-10 right now, but undoubtedly an interesting feature for a future module, as GPS is relied upon so heavily that its loss can outright cripple modern combat operations.

[Speed]

One threat that's quickly becoming a problem for modern Air Forces are GPS jammers. Despite encryption, frequencies for GPS signals are known and due to their low signal strength means that they can be susceptible to barrage jamming. The results should be obvious - EGI will lose alignment (this is actually represented on many aircraft as error rate in feet), JDAMs would be effectively useless, and reliance on L/L / UTM coordinates will make things infinitely harder, requiring targeting using more conventional methods or bullseyes.

 

So. How about it? Maybe too much for DCS: A-10 right now, but undoubtedly an interesting feature for a future module, as GPS is relied upon so heavily that its loss can outright cripple modern combat operations.

 

 

There was talk about this during Beta by one of the developers, but I donno if it ever came to fruition. Likely, the ability to deny GPS exists through a mod to a Lua file somewhere, at least. Personally, I've never knowingly encountered any Lua function that would allow one to turn GPS satellites on or off.

 

So GPS off would definately be a cool thing to have as a mission editor functionality.

[GGTharos]

If you had to fly an INS-only mission, about all the difference that makes is that you need to correct the INS drift when near the target.

 

In terms of jammers, it probably won't matter in most cases - the EGI will have the INS corrected, and you'll be flying for a short time inside the jamming zone, during which the INS should be accurate enough. The IAMs wont suffer, either, as evidenced last time GPS jammers were used against them in RL.

[Frostiken]

If you had to fly an INS-only mission, about all the difference that makes is that you need to correct the INS drift when near the target.

 

In terms of jammers, it probably won't matter in most cases - the EGI will have the INS corrected, and you'll be flying for a short time inside the jamming zone, during which the INS should be accurate enough. The IAMs wont suffer, either, as evidenced last time GPS jammers were used against them in RL.

 

Entirely depends on the size and scope of the jammer. GPS signals are extremely weak, so weak most GPS receivers in a car get baffled by the presence of a metal roof over them. A network of cheap, portable jammers could black out an entire theater.

 

During Red Flag GPS jammers are used to blot out the entire area specifically for training without the ability to use GPS whatsoever. They aren't giant pieces of immobile equipment, IIRC most of them are man-portable little boxes.

[Gaz B]

The US turned off the civilian GPS in Georgia and the area around it during the 08 08 08 conflict there which made Russian operations more difficult.

 

Have also heard reports that JDAM could not be used in Afghanistan against certain targets in the mountains because the cave targets required high precision to get the munitions into cave entrances and without solid signals from three or more satellites it was not possible to use them.