Radar spoofing article in AvWeb

This article was quoted in AvWeb this week:
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...378061,00.html

"FAA officials have become aware that an electronics boffin, using
a second-hand or 'borrowed' transponder from a small (general aviation)
aircraft connected to a $5 data lead, a $5 aerial and a laptop computer, can
create 10, 20 or even 50 false aircraft on an air traffic controller's
screen," Mr Smith says in a letter to Mr Truss. "This will create total
chaos in the air traffic control system."


It appears the guy would be replacing the serial data stream from the panel
mount with data from a laptop and the transponder "blindly" retransmits
whatever it is told.

I don't see why they couldn't measure a Doppler shift to prove it is a
moving transmitter instead of someone's laptop. Maybe they could software
key the
transponder to a panel mount's serial number like Jepessen does for
databases. That would help with the spoofing.

But isn't the FAA stuck with expensive Primary radars in addition to the new
ADSB ground stations so they can paint a target off aircraft skin instead of
doing away with all of expensive to maintain primary radars?

How is the FAA going to justify not tracking aircraft without electrical
systems and bad guys who don't turn it on to save money?

ADSB has nothing to do with primary returns.

Bob Gardner

"ron" wrote in message
news:0F0ig.1012409$xm3.990936@attbi_s21...
This article was quoted in AvWeb this week:
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...378061,00.html

"FAA officials have become aware that an electronics boffin, using
a second-hand or 'borrowed' transponder from a small (general aviation)
aircraft connected to a $5 data lead, a $5 aerial and a laptop computer,
can
create 10, 20 or even 50 false aircraft on an air traffic controller's
screen," Mr Smith says in a letter to Mr Truss. "This will create total
chaos in the air traffic control system."


It appears the guy would be replacing the serial data stream from the
panel mount with data from a laptop and the transponder "blindly"
retransmits whatever it is told.

I don't see why they couldn't measure a Doppler shift to prove it is a
moving transmitter instead of someone's laptop. Maybe they could software
key the
transponder to a panel mount's serial number like Jepessen does for
databases. That would help with the spoofing.

But isn't the FAA stuck with expensive Primary radars in addition to the
new ADSB ground stations so they can paint a target off aircraft skin
instead of doing away with all of expensive to maintain primary radars?

How is the FAA going to justify not tracking aircraft without electrical
systems and bad guys who don't turn it on to save money?

Bob,

The point I was trying to make is the FAA is counting on being able to turn
off a lot of primary radars when it is all implemented to save money, and I
can see where that makes sense if you don't consider the problem of
detecting people that don't want to cooperate and be nice.

The spoofing is only applicable to ADSB because the barrier to entry is so
much lower from a cost and technology standpoint. I am wondering whether it
is wise for the FAA trying to save money here and not have the backup of
primary radar. Mabye they are only going to spend the money on 'important'
cities and not include the rest of us.

By the way, I have several of your books and really appreciate the way you
are able to convey knowledge.

Ron

"Bob Gardner" wrote in message
...
ADSB has nothing to do with primary returns.

Bob Gardner

"FAA officials have become aware that an electronics boffin, using
a second-hand or 'borrowed' transponder from a small (general aviation)
aircraft connected to a $5 data lead, a $5 aerial and a laptop computer,
can
create 10, 20 or even 50 false aircraft on an air traffic controller's
screen," Mr Smith says in a letter to Mr Truss. "This will create total
chaos in the air traffic control system."

This isn't new information, even to the FAA, despite what the article says.
I could replace the altitude encoder in my airplane with my laptop, parallel
port, and some simple software and return whatever altitude I wanted to ATC.
They would never know the difference. But I don't.

A GPS jammer can create chaos. A stuck mic can create chaos. A lost
aircraft in class B can create chaos.



It appears the guy would be replacing the serial data stream from the
panel
mount with data from a laptop and the transponder "blindly" retransmits
whatever it is told.

I don't see why they couldn't measure a Doppler shift to prove it is a
moving transmitter instead of someone's laptop.

Sure, they could probably add this capability over a free weekend. Think
about the scope and cost of what you're asking here.

Maybe they could software
key the
transponder to a panel mount's serial number like Jepessen does for
databases. That would help with the spoofing.

Yep, everybody get in line for a mod to your transponder. That will be
$1AMU, thank you.


But isn't the FAA stuck with expensive Primary radars in addition to the
new
ADSB ground stations so they can paint a target off aircraft skin instead
of
doing away with all of expensive to maintain primary radars?

Go learn some things about ATC radar and ADS-B. ADS-B will eventually
replace most of the primary radar system.


How is the FAA going to justify not tracking aircraft without electrical
systems and bad guys who don't turn it on to save money?

You mean just like how they don't track aircraft without electrical systems
today, unless they are close to the radar site ? You mean just like they
don't track the pilots who don't turn on their transponders today ?

In article .com,
"jmk" wrote:

You "see" that 3000' antenna and fly around it.

Until someone tries to fly under it!