New AI driven project strengthens protection for UK satellite and navigation systems

OrbitalCyber project to detect satellite signal interference in real time

A new research project is set to improve the security and resilience of the satellite systems that the UK relies on every day for navigation, communications and national defence.

OrbitalCyber is an AI‑driven platform developed in partnership with University of Wolverhampton and Cardiff Metropolitan University, led by Dr Jasim Uddin and Professor Md Arafatur Rahman. The project focuses on detecting and responding to cyber threats that interfere with satellite signals, particularly jamming and spoofing attacks.

Satellite services underpin many critical parts of modern life, from GPS navigation in cars and smartphones to aviation, shipping, energy networks, financial transactions and emergency services. They are also central to the UK’s defence and national security infrastructure. As a result, protecting satellite systems from disruption has become a national priority.

A growing and underestimated threat

Government strategies including the UK National Space Strategy and Defence Space Strategy have identified cyber‑attacks, jamming and spoofing as some of the most serious risks to space systems. These concerns have led to significant government investment to improve awareness of what is happening in space and strengthening the resilience of satellite navigation systems.

Jamming and spoofing are forms of signal interference:

• Jamming disrupts satellite communications by flooding them with radio noise, preventing real signals from getting through.
• Spoofing is more deceptive. It sends fake but realistic signals that can trick receivers into believing they are in a different location or time, or that the data they are receiving is trustworthy when it is not.

Recent international monitoring has recorded hundreds of thousands of incidents where GPS signals were disrupted, particularly affecting aircraft and ships. If these disruptions go undetected, the consequences can be serious – from transport delays and financial losses to risks to public safety and national security.

Why current solutions fall short

Many existing methods for detecting jamming and spoofing depend on expensive specialist hardware, manual analysis by experts, or fixed detection rules that struggle to adapt as threats change. These approaches can be slow, costly and ineffective against new or previously unseen attacks.

Smaller satellite operators and ground‑station providers are particularly exposed. They often lack the budget, infrastructure and specialist expertise needed to monitor satellite signals around the clock.

How OrbitalCyber works

OrbitalCyber aims to close this gap by developing a software‑based, AI‑driven detection platform that can be used by both satellite operators and ground‑based systems.

Rather than relying on fixed rules, the platform uses artificial intelligence and machine learning – computer systems that can learn from data and identify patterns. The system analyses satellite signal behaviour continuously and in real time, allowing it to:

• recognise known types of interference
• detect unusual or abnormal activity that may indicate a new or evolving threat
• provide early warnings before serious disruption occurs

Results are presented through clear, actionable alerts, supported by simple diagnostic information, so operators can understand what is happening without needing deep technical expertise.

Designed for scale and accessibility

Key features of OrbitalCyber include:

• real‑time detection of jamming and spoofing
• AI‑based identification of unknown and evolving threats
• clear alerts that support rapid decision‑making
• scalable deployment suitable for small satellite missions and ground stations

By focusing on a flexible, software‑based approach, OrbitalCyber is designed to be affordable and practical for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as larger operators. This ensures that organisations with limited resources can still protect critical satellite services.

Supporting a secure space enabled economy

OrbitalCyber contributes to the UK’s wider efforts to safeguard the space infrastructure that supports daily life, economic activity and national security. By making advanced threat detection more accessible, the project helps strengthen trust in the satellite systems that underpin the modern digital economy.

Dr Jasim Uddin said:
“Satellite services are fundamental to how the UK functions, yet the threats they face are growing faster than many organisations can respond. OrbitalCyber is about giving operators the tools they need to detect and respond to interference quickly and confidently.”

Professor Md Arafatur Rahman added:
“By using AI to provide real time, understandable insights rather than complex technical data, this project makes advanced satellite security achievable for organisations of all sizes.”