Cybersecurity Analysis of Navigation Systems in Civil Aviation

Abstract

Performance of on-board navigation system is a key element of aviation safety. Excessive variation of measured navigation parameters performance such as accuracy, availability, integrity, and continuity, reduces a level of aviation safety for all airspace users. This condition may lead to different hazardous scenarios in air transportation. The majority of navigation systems, used today in civil aviation, uses wireless communication line between different components of the system during navigation parameter measuring cycle. Navigation data transmitted by wireless communication is sensitive to influence of interference, unintentional jamming, or spoofing. In the paper we provide cybersecurity analysis of on-board radio-navigation equipment protection from outside influence via wireless communication channel. An analysis is performed by three main cybersecurity categories: strong, middle, and low which are based on assessment of potential impact into system integrity. Cybersecurity of global navigation satellite system, navigational aids, instrument landing system, and automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast are considered in more details. Actions to protect navigation equipment of airplane and ground facility from false data are proposed.