DHS Offering Resiliency Tests for Critical GPS Systems

The Department of Homeland Security will be offering the first in a planned series of tests for GPS resiliency in April, The Hill reported.

The tests are not for driving or running apps, but critical devices used by air traffic control and split-second stock trading. Many uses focus more on providing accurate timing than the more familiar location detection.

Applications for tests are being accepted through March 3.

"Accurate and precise position, navigation, and timing (PNT) information is vital to the nation's critical infrastructure," Robert Griffin, acting DHS undersecretary for science and technology, said in a prepared statement.

The tests set for April 17-21 will focus on "live-sky test scenarios focused on spoofed GPS signals."

While GPS interruptions are not common, they can cause issues should someone purposely spoof a signal to trick a system. The intent of the tests are to get in front of any bad actors trying to disrupt critical infrastructure.

"What we're envisioning in the long term is having a couple of test events a year," DHS program manager Sara Mahmood, told The Hill.

Typically, outages are temporary and accidental, such as the case of a truck driver who was jamming his company's GPS signal locator on his vehicle who inadvertently shut down the GPS signal for Newark Liberty International Airport every time he dove by, as NJ.com reported.

Retired Coast Guard Capt. Dana Goward warned in January the GPS threat has been ignored despite directives from President George W. Bush in 2004 and President Barack Obama in 2009.

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