Jammertest returns to Andøya for large-scale GNSS resilience trials

From 14-18 September, a coalition of Norwegian government agencies and national institutions will organize Jammertest on the island of Andøya, Norway, for the fifth consecutive year. The annual event has become recognized as the world’s largest open PNT/GNSS resilience test, providing a controlled yet realistic environment for evaluating the robustness of navigation and positioning systems under interference conditions.

Each year, Jammertest is organized by a partnership that includes the Norwegian Public Roads Administration, Norwegian Communications Authority, Norwegian Defence Research Establishment, Norwegian Metrology Service, Norwegian Space Agency, Norwegian Mapping Authority, Avinor and Testnor. Together, the partners provide access to infrastructure, regulatory oversight and technical expertise, positioning the event as a key platform for resilience testing across civil and defence-related applications.

Real-world exposure to GNSS interference

Jammertest distinguishes itself from laboratory-based testing by offering open-air exposure to realistic threat scenarios. Participants can conduct trials across four dedicated test areas, including an operational airport environment.

The programme allows for controlled jamming, spoofing and meaconing scenarios, enabling companies and public authorities to assess system performance under conditions that mirror operational reality. Organizers state that the objective is to generate actionable data and insights to counter increasingly frequent and sophisticated interference threats affecting PNT-dependent systems worldwide.

Located far above the Arctic Circle, Andøya offers a unique combination of geographic and operational advantages. A natural barrier of surrounding mountains makes it possible to transmit high-power disruptive signals without significant impact on surrounding communities. In addition, Norway’s northern coastline provides access to open-sea testing areas, facilitating large-scale jamming exercises that would be difficult to conduct elsewhere in Europe.

Beyond the lab environment

According to the organizers, open-air testing is critical for identifying vulnerabilities that may not surface in controlled laboratory conditions. Large and mobile systems – including vehicles, drones and helicopters – require physical space and dynamic scenarios to fully evaluate GNSS resilience.

Jammertest is presented as one of the few opportunities globally to conduct comprehensive GNSS radio frequency interference (RFI) field testing at scale. For technology developers and infrastructure operators, the event offers the possibility to validate performance under real operational stress.

Due to sustained demand, participation is subject to an application process. Selected organizations will receive invitations to attend. The organizing partners reserve the right to select participants based on Norwegian national interests and identified needs. Applications are submitted at the organizational level; each organization is required to file only one application, rather than individual registrations.

With GNSS interference incidents rising across sectors, Jammertest continues to position Norway as a central arena for resilience testing in the evolving PNT landscape.