Pump up the jam!

For the first time, the Canadian Space Aggressor Team (CSAT) from 7 Space Operations Squadron conducted Global Positioning System (GPS) jamming during Exercises REFLEXE RAPIDE (Ex RR23) and MAPLE RESOLVE (Ex MR23), the Canadian’s Army’s largest training exercise.

GPS jamming involves using a transmitting device to interfere with GPS satellite signals. This can affect capabilities like Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT); communications; target accuracy; and surveillance during military operations. The CSAT procured four handheld Navigation Warfare (NAVWAR) Electronic Attack Trainer (NEAT) jammers and monitoring equipment to provide a GPS-denied environment to exercise the troops’ ability to adapt their tactics.

During Ex RR23, a training event that helps soldiers become more experienced in anticipation of the Ex MR23 certification exercise, the CSAT tested over 50 vehicles and dozens of systems in a jamming trial, which enabled discussions about how to operate when some equipment or systems are affected. The CSAT also briefed units from 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (5 CMBG) to educate on Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) equipment weaknesses and provide simple solution in preparation for Ex MR.

Following that, the CSAT joined the Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre (CMTC) in Wainwright for Ex MR23, which is a certification event that ensures 5 CMBG’s readiness for any future deployment. Working within two fixed boxes – two kilometers by two kilometers – the mobile CSAT deliver live GPS jamming to exercise troops. This tested the resiliency of the troops to work within a GPS contested, degraded, and denied environment. They also tested the jammer against CH-146 Griffon and CH-147F Chinook helicopters participating in the exercise.

Considering the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) has seen GPS jamming used in theatres of operations around the globe, integrating the CSAT into training exercises across the CAF has real-world benefits.

The GPS jamming conducted by the Canadian Space Aggressor Team helped the Canadian Army understand where they might have vulnerabilities and to develop a new way of doing things to mitigate the jamming effects. Maybe more importantly, it showed them where they didn’t have vulnerabilities. For the troops to have confidence in their equipment and procedures before going out the door into real-world operations is essential to success.