An Indian Air Force (IAF) C-130J Super Hercules aircraft encountered a GPS-spoofing attack while flying over Myanmar during Operation Brahma, India’s humanitarian relief mission in the earthquake-hit country, according to media reports citing defence sources.
The IAF plane’s navigation was disrupted following the GPS spoofing, which is suspected to have been carried out by Chinese-enabled systems, in Myanmar’s airspace.
Defence sources said the mid-air cyberattack hit the aircraft’s navigation by feeding it false satellite coordinates. However, the pilots swiftly shifted to the onboard Inertial Navigation System (INS) to maintain course and ensure flight safety.
GPS Spoofing
GPS spoofing involves the emission of deceptive signals that override legitimate satellite data, tricking navigation systems.
Similar incidents have previously been reported near the India-Pakistan border. Since November 2023, at least 465 spoofing cases have been recorded in areas around Amritsar and Jammu.
Myanmar Earthquake
On March 28, a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar, claiming 3,649 lives and injuring more than 5,000.
The quake was followed by numerous aftershocks and was felt in parts of Thailand and northeastern India.
Operation Brahma
In response, India launched Operation Brahma to provide critical aid, including search and rescue (SAR), medical support, and relief supplies.
The first consignment of 15 tonnes of humanitarian aid—comprising tents, blankets, essential medicines, and food—was delivered on March 29 via a C-130J aircraft.
Supplies were provided by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
To date, six IAF aircraft and five Indian Navy ships have transported a total of 625 metric tonnes of Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR) materials to Myanmar.
Rescue Ops Face Challenges
Rescue efforts are ongoing, though they’ve been hampered by poor weather and restricted internet access due to the Myanmar military regime’s tighter control over communications.
Earlier on Sunday, another earthquake with a magnitude of 5.6 struck Myanmar, according to the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC). The tremor, at a depth of 35 kilometers, did not result in any reported injuries or casualties.
(With inputs from IBNS)
