C-GUARD – Securing GNSS systems and building PNT infrastructure resilience

Project overview

The C-GUARD project aims to strengthen the security of positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) systems relying on GNSS (such as GPS, Galileo, etc.). It addresses the growing threats of jamming and spoofing, which directly compromise the reliability of critical systems.

The objective is to develop an integrated architecture capable of real-time GNSS attack detection and national-level signal anomaly monitoring.

Background and problem statement

GNSS systems are vital to the continuous operation of modern infrastructure, particularly across aviation, transportation, energy, telecommunications and emergency services.

However, these systems remain highly vulnerable to spoofing and jamming attacks, which can lead to severe positioning errors, synchronization failures and widespread operational disruptions.

The economic impact of a major GNSS outage is estimated to range between $1 billion and $1.6 billion USD per day.

A professional individual in a blue shirt, smiling confidently with arms crossed, exuding a welcoming and approachable demeanor.

René Jr. Landry is a professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at ÉTS and Director of LASSENA.

Project objectives

Detect GNSS attacks in real time
Monitor GNSS signal anomalies on a national scale
Enhance the resilience of critical infrastructure
Develop GNSS validation and certification tools
Support Canadian technological sovereignty in GNSS cybersecurity

Proposed solution

Advanced spoofing detection metrics
Development of robust indicators to identify GNSS anomalies and drastically minimize false-positive rates
C-SHIELD monitoring network
Deployment of a nationwide, real-time GNSS monitoring network to detect, track and analyze emerging threats
Canadian CyberJam Challenge (CCC)
Creation of a high-fidelity simulation environment designed to test and validate defences against realistic GNSS cyberattack scenarios

Innovation and key differentiators

Direct integration of algorithms into certifiable GNSS receivers
Real-time GNSS monitoring on a national scale
Utilization of advanced GNSS simulators (Safran)
Validation across multiple distinct receiver families
Creation of a dedicated Canadian testbed for GNSS cyberattacks

Expected benefits

Enhanced safety for aviation and critical infrastructure
Mitigated risks associated with GNSS cyberattacks
Strengthened national PNT resilience
Real-time alerts triggered by GNSS signal anomalies
Direct support for international certification and standardization frameworks
Development of homegrown Canadian expertise and technological sovereignty

Target sectors

Civil aviation and defence
Telecommunications
Land and maritime transportation
UAVs and autonomous mobility
Energy and smart grids
Public safety and government agencies

Preliminary results

Development of detection metrics
Spoofing simulation scenarios and stress tests
Initial architecture of the C-SHIELD network
Validation on simulators and GNSS databases
Mobilization of academic, industrial and government partners

Research challenges

Reducing false positives in GNSS detection
Validation on multiple types of receivers and in real environments
Regulatory constraints related to RF emissions
Certification of technologies
Large-scale, real-time processing
Data protection and cybersecurity

Technology readiness level (TRL)

The project ranges between TRL 3 and TRL 5, depending on the component. The next phases target deployment within operational monitoring networks and commercial avionics receivers.

Acceleration drivers