GPS Jamming Detection Pilot for Executive Vehicle Fleet

Vehicle theft and executive transport disruption have evolved beyond traditional methods. Increasingly, adversaries employ GPS jammers to disable tracking systems, obscure vehicle movements or delay response times during theft or abduction attempts. For high-profile organisations and their leadership, the ability to detect and respond to such attacks is not optional — it is critical.

Our client, a multinational with a fleet of executive vehicles operating across Europe, engaged us to design and deliver a pilot GPS jamming detection system. Their goal was simple: determine whether their vehicles were at risk from jamming and evaluate whether real-time detection could enhance resilience.

We deployed prototype detection hardware across a subset of the fleet. The system logged and reported attempted jamming events, feeding data back into a central analysis platform. The pilot uncovered two incidents of attempted jamming within the test period, validating the threat and demonstrating the need for scaled deployment.

The outcome was clear: the client gained both proof of concept and proof of value. They established an early-warning capability that could not only protect their assets but also feed into wider law enforcement intelligence around vehicle theft.

Background & Client Need

The client maintained a fleet of high-value executive vehicles for board members and senior management. These vehicles, operating in urban and rural environments, were equipped with GPS-based tracking and telematics systems.

The client had observed an increase in regional theft incidents where jammers were suspected. While none of their vehicles had yet been targeted, leadership identified a growing risk.

Their objectives included:

• Proof of Threat: Determine whether GPS jamming attempts were occurring in real operational contexts.

• Proof of Concept: Validate whether affordable, covert detection hardware could provide real-time alerts.

• Integration Potential: Assess whether detection could feed into both corporate security operations and law enforcement partnerships.

• Risk Reduction: Reduce the likelihood of vehicle theft or delayed response during an incident.

The project was explicitly framed as a pilot, enabling the client to test the feasibility of GPS jamming detection without committing to full-scale deployment.

The Challenge

GPS jamming detection poses multiple technical and operational challenges:

1. Device Size and Covert Deployment
   Detection hardware had to be small, discreet and easily installed in vehicles without disrupting normal operations.

2. Signal Environment Complexity
   Urban areas present high levels of RF noise. Distinguishing malicious jamming from background interference is non-trivial.

3. Real-Time Reporting
   Detection without timely alerting is of limited use. Systems had to log, timestamp and alert events with minimal latency.

4. False Positive Risk
   Executives could not be distracted by spurious alerts. Accuracy was essential.

5. Scalability
   The pilot had to not only work for a handful of vehicles but demonstrate potential to expand across an entire fleet.

Our Approach

We applied a phased pilot deployment methodology:

1. System Design

• Selected compact RF detection hardware capable of monitoring GPS frequencies.

• Integrated with on board data logging and GSM modules for alert transmission.

• Configured alert thresholds to balance sensitivity with false-positive reduction.

2. Pilot Deployment

• Installed devices in six executive vehicles operating across mixed environments (urban London, suburban corridors and rural routes).

• Conducted baseline testing to record normal GPS signal conditions for comparison.

3. Monitoring & Analysis

• Collected logs centrally for analysis.

• Cross-referenced detection events with vehicle routes, times and external conditions.

• Applied statistical filtering to validate incidents.

4. Reporting & Recommendations

• Delivered interim weekly updates to the client’s security team.

• Produced a final report detailing events, implications and scaling options.

Findings

The six-week pilot revealed critical insights:

Verified Jamming Attempts

Two separate incidents of GPS jamming were detected in vehicles travelling through urban London. Both lasted under two minutes but were sufficient to disrupt GPS tracking.

Implication: Adversaries in the region were actively using jammers, validating the threat model.

Localised RF Noise Events

Several spikes in interference were recorded near industrial areas but did not meet thresholds for active jamming.

Implication: Environmental noise was manageable with proper filtering and did not cause disruptive false positives.

Hardware Reliability

All deployed devices operated continuously for the full pilot with no failures.

Implication: The hardware platform was stable enough for scaling.

Executive Feedback

Executives were not directly aware of incidents during journeys — alerts were routed only to security staff.

Implication: Operational disruption was minimised, maintaining user acceptance.

Outcomes & Remediation

The pilot produced both immediate and strategic outcomes:

1. Proof of Threat
   Confirmed that jamming incidents were occurring in real-world conditions.

2. Operational Alerts
   Provided live alerts to the security team, allowing them to monitor and respond if required.

3. Policy Development
   Client began drafting procedures for vehicle response in the event of confirmed jamming.

4. Scaling Roadmap
   Client approved planning for wider deployment across the fleet, including integration into the corporate Security Operations Centre (SOC).

Value to the Client

The pilot delivered clear value:

1. Threat Validation
   The client moved from theoretical concern to validated evidence of active jamming.

2. Early Warning Capability
   Security staff gained visibility into a previously invisible threat.

3. Enhanced Risk Management
   The client could demonstrate proactive action to stakeholders and insurers, improving confidence and potentially reducing premiums.

4. Strategic Law Enforcement Partnership
   The pilot created an opportunity for intelligence sharing with police, contributing to wider disruption of vehicle theft networks.

Why This Matters for Other Organisations

The lessons from this pilot extend beyond one client:

• High-Value Vehicle Fleets (executives, logistics and law enforcement) are increasingly targeted by GPS jamming.

• Insurance & Compliance stakeholders increasingly expect proactive measures against theft.

• Technology Costs for detection are falling, making scalable deployment realistic.

For any organisation reliant on vehicle mobility, jamming detection represents an essential new layer of resilience.

Closing Note

The pilot reinforced a fundamental truth: you cannot defend against what you cannot see. By deploying even a small-scale detection capability, the client moved from guesswork to evidence-based risk management.

This engagement not only validated the threat but also demonstrated that detection is feasible, scalable and valuable.

If your organisation operates a high-value vehicle fleet, we can design and deploy a GPS jamming detection pilot within four weeks, providing proof of concept and a roadmap for full-scale resilience.