Accession Number:

ADA561697

Title:

Exploiting the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast System via False Target Injection

Descriptive Note:

Master's thesis

Corporate Author:

AIR FORCE INST OF TECH WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB OH DEPT OF ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING

Personal Author(s):

• Magazu III, Domenic

Report Date:

2012-03-01

Pagination or Media Count:

101.0

Abstract:

A new aircraft surveillance system, Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast ADS-B, is being introduced by the Federal Aviation Administration FAA with mandated implementation in the United States by the year 2020. The rapid deployment of the system with current test-beds spread across the U.S. leaves very little chance for anyone to test the abilities of the system and more importantly the flaws of the system. The research conducted within this thesis explores some of the weaknesses of the system to include the relative ease with which false aircraft targets can be injected. As part of a proof of concept, false ADS-B messages were successfully generated using a system comprised of GNU Radio, a Universal Software Radio Peripheral USRP, and software developed by the author. The ability to generate, transmit, and insert spoofed ADS-B messages on the display of a commercial ADS-B receiver, identified and exploited a weakness of the ADS-B system. Four demonstrations, conducted within an experimental environment, displayed the potential uses of the system created through this research and its associated impacts.

Descriptors:

• *AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
• *FALSE TARGETS
• AIR SPACE
• COMMERCIAL AVIATION
• GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM
• POSITION(LOCATION)
• SURVEILLANCE
• THESES

Subject Categories:

• Flight Control and Instrumentation
• Commercial and General Aviation
• Air Navigation and Guidance

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE