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Raider440 t1_j2w94z6 wrote

Recently with the Russian Invasion of Ukraine there has been a flood of pictures of pilots from both sides(mainly Russian Strike Aircraft) using civilian GARMIN GPS units instead of their onboard instruments for navigation and strike missions. Do you have an idea why?

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Mikeyme1998 OP t1_j2xo05z wrote

The only thing I can come up with is space vs ground based navigation. Most old planes will not be equip with built in GPS (I admit I don't know what equipment these jets have) and only use VOR or ADF technology. VOR and ADF are both ground based radio navigation tools, so easily sabotaged by destroying a radio tower, meaning your planes lose navigation. GPS, though, is space based and a lot more difficult to disrupt. If I had to guess this is the reason... It's also a lot easier to preplan and map a GPS plan, as you don't need to worry about tuning VOR beacons and switching the nav source.

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glockymcglockface t1_j2xm9hk wrote

They are cheap, reliable, and easy to install. Especially when you are talking about a 40+ year aircraft

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WyldGoat t1_j2y5cl8 wrote

Which is surprising, still. Modern military aircrafts will have their GPS loaded with crypto to not be spoofed/jammed.

Seems like a missed opportunity from Ukraine if that's the case.

"Bomb this location!!" "Da!"

Bombs own troops

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deepaksn t1_j2yu6mx wrote

Uh.. this isn’t how GPS works.

The signals from the satellites are the same regardless of the receiver. The only thing that was different was selective availability where civilians got a less accurate signal but even this has been removed.

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WyldGoat t1_j310alz wrote

Yes, but to my knowledge you could potentially spoof a receiver (not the satellites) to think it's somewhere else.

That's why they use crypto.

Kinda like jamming with a stronger signal, but with a valid one saying you're not where you are.

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