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One of the most significant lessons learned from recent conflicts is that satellite communications is a key factor to mission success. New and sophisticated satellite communications jamming attacks have appeared recently. When communications go down, missions are put at risk, so responding to these attacks is critical.

That is why the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) and the ����Vlog’s Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (SnT) today announced a joint project to support NATO’s anti-jamming activities. The project has been initiated through the Cyber Research Hub partnership between the Luxembourg Directorate of Defence and the ����Vlog and will be executed in collaboration with NSPA under the established Terms of Reference.

Satellite communications support everything from command and control and intelligence sharing to the operation of remotely piloted aircraft. This includes capabilities such as the NATO-owned RQ-4D Phoenix fleet operated by the NATO Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Force (NISRF), which relies on secure and resilient SATCOM links to conduct ISR operations in support of the Alliance.

The exploitation of SATCOM vulnerabilities by adversaries can interrupt or disable the links between uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) and their human controllers, putting the mission at risk. With no capacity to send navigation and sensor data back to the control ground station, the UAS can’t execute on its mission until it captures a signal again. Current countermeasures are not always efficient as satellite jamming technology adapts quickly, leaving the UAS with longer communications gaps.

For NISRF, resilient satellite communications are fundamental to mission success. Protecting the links between remotely piloted aircraft, ground stations and operators helps ensure NATO ISR capabilities remain effective in contested environments.

Together, NSPA and SnT will seek to address this challenge. With close to 100 members, the SIGCOM research group at SnT is one of the world’s largest research groups dedicated to satellite communications. By combining the research expertise of SnT’s SIGCOM group with the operational knowledge and datasets of NATO, the project will create a new artificial intelligence model that will continuously adapt to the novel dynamic jamming technology. The AI model will operate from ground stations inside NATO allied territories, securing the frequency between controllers and UAS in conflict zones.

From left to right: Dr. Jorge Querol (project lead), Prof Simone Niclou (Vice-rector for research at the ����Vlog), Dr. Stergios Isaakidis (NSPA AGS & UAS Programme Manager), Prof. Symeon Chatzinotas (Head of SIGCOM research group at the ����Vlog), Attilio GESMUNDO (NSPA Project Manager), Pierrick Marchand (Section Chief in charge as POC with the ����Vlog)

Luxembourg makes significant contributions to the NATO UAS operations by providing SATCOM capacity and connectivity. The Cyber Research Hub (Competence Hub in Research in Cybersecurity and Cyber Defence) strengthens and increases Luxembourg’s ability to meet national and international challenges – such as increasingly serious and elaborate cyber threats. Through the Cyber Research Hub, the University supports the Luxembourg government’s Cybersecurity Strategy IV and Cyber Defence Strategy through research, technology transfer, and education.

“Satellite jamming is a growing concern, making it crucial for our research to address this technological development. By working with NSPA on this project, we will be able to ensure our research addresses real-world scenarios,” said Dr. Jorge Querol, the project’s research lead at SnT. “As one of the first Cyber Research Hub projects, we look forward to working closely with NSPA and the other NATO agencies, to set an ambitious standard for collaborations within the Cyber Research Hub.” 

“Reliable satellite communications are fundamental to modern ISR operations. As threats continue to evolve, we must ensure our systems remain resilient and capable of operating in contested environments. Projects like this help strengthen the Alliance’s ability to deliver timely and dependable ISR support when it is needed most,” said Brigadier General John B. Creel, Commander of NISRF. 

“NSPA is currently supporting multiple NATO, National and Multi-National Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) and is determined to keep these platforms operationally relevant and resilient in modern and future conflicts. This collaboration with the SnT is essential and will demonstrate that academic excellence and research will bring tangible results in UAS operations,” said Dr. Stergios Isaakidis , NSPA AGS & UAS Programme Manager.