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In the Jan.-Feb. 2026 edition of GPS World magazine, we asked our experts, with the increase in reported GNSS jamming incidents affecting commercial aviation, what technical approaches show the most promise for ensuring reliable PNT?
Check out their responses below:
Mitch Narins, Strategic Synergies
“Aviation encompasses a diverse range of applications and missions, requiring support from various positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) solutions. As with most challenges, employing multiple strategies often yields optimal outcomes, particularly in scenarios where a one-size-fits-all approach is impractical. I firmly believe in the enduring importance of the guidance historically imparted to navigators: to ‘utilize all available means.’
However, it is crucial to recognize that GNSS jamming is not the primary concern. Fortunately, aviation has historically and continues to rely on resilient ground-based alternatives, although many of these systems have been in service for several decades and require upgrades and replacements. The more pressing issue for aviation and other PNT applications lies in spoofing. I strongly advocate for the abandonment of the concept of employing a single, non-resilient solution for critical functions, a practice once referred to as ‘GPS sole-means.’”
Miguel Amor, Septentrio
“Ensuring reliable navigation and timing in the presence of increasing GNSS jamming requires both stronger technology and faster modernization in aviation. Today, the most effective protection is a layered approach, starting with advanced interference mitigation at the receiver level. Modern anti-jamming algorithms and robust signal processing, combined with multi-frequency and multi-constellation capabilities, provide important diversity and allow systems to continue operating even in difficult RF environments. CRPA antennas also further improve resilience by enabling spatial filtering and adaptive nulling, suppressing jammers before they impact the receiver.”
Paul McBurney, oneNav
“Controlled Reception Pattern Antennas (CRPAs) and adoption of L5. As discussed by Brad Parkinson, Ph.D., at the most recent National Space-based PNT Advisory Board (PNTAB) meeting, the CRPA is the big-hammer anti-jam solution. It’s great to hear that the ITAR restrictions have been removed. For commercial aviation, the long pole to deployment is likely dependent on an FAA certification procedure. The other advice from PNTAB is that L5 has a much smaller denial radius. So, once again, the U.S. Government and FAA are on the critical path: We need L5 to be declared healthy and usable, which likely requires an upgrade of RTCA MOPS.”
