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US government warns of Iranian threats to commercial shipping

12 points by howard941 7y ago

HenryKissinger 7y ago
Some companies have already developed anti-jamming technology for GPS, such as Novatel: https://www.novatel.com/solutions/anti-jamming-technology/ https://www.novatel.com/solutions/anti-jamming-technology/
exabrial 7y ago
I don't understand the end game of Iran's actions. While the US and allies are no angels, from a purely economic perspective, their actions seem to further isolate them economically and driving off potential wealth building/investment.
- jddj 7y ago
  They're up against a wall. They rapidly went from being on the cusp of a nuclear deal and relief of sanctions to being economically more or less broken and with the US using whatever means they can to build them up as an enemy, and it all came more or less out of left-field (who really could have seen Bolton and his agenda coming a couple of years ago?). I doubt Iran really understand their end game either, but I get the impression it doesn't matter much. They're going to wait and see just like the rest of us - the defence industry's propaganda machine is running this one. To avoid confusion, I'm personally both against another conflict in the middle east and not at all supportive of Iran's autocratic structure or their government's priorities -- but it does feel like we're being taken for another ride here.
- LyndsySimon 7y ago
  I'm no expert in this area, but I have been paying attention. Iran's government is much more fragmented than what I'm accustomed to as a US citizen - the impression I get is that there are factions in Iran that have differing and sometimes opposed agendas. It seems like the group poking the bear right now are in control of the military (or at least, their navy), but I've not seen any indication that the political class is in support. This wouldn't be unprecedented. Japan had similar issues in the leadup to World War 2. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mukden_Incident https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mukden_Incident
  - exabrial 7y ago
    This is actually a fairly insightful. My original comment assume there was a central media source making all the statements and commanding the military. What you're saying is these are all separate entities?
nimbius 7y ago
call me a skeptic but the entire article from CNN is rather dubious. There are several man-made explanations that can account for aberrant behavior in GPS including lack of maintenance and unintended spurious emissions from regional RF towers. >A US defense official told CNN that Iran has placed GPS jammers on Iran-controlled Abu Musa Island, which lies in the Persian Gulf close to the entrance of the Strait of Hormuz. Cool. So who was she? When was this reported? did Congress receive this information? The US defense department has every incentive to overstate threats from Iran. >The official said the Iranian jammers have no effect on US military warships and aircraft. So, the jammers are magic jammers.
- stunt 7y ago
  > So, the jammers are magic jammers. I wouldn't be surprised to think military uses different navigation system than commercial ships.
  - howard941 7y ago
    It does, one relying partially on the encrypted codes. See for ex http://mil-embedded.com/articles/securing-military-gps-spoofing-jamming-vulnerabilities/ http://mil-embedded.com/articles/securing-military-gps-spoof...
deleted 7y ago
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12 points by howard941 7y ago

Some companies have already developed anti-jamming technology for GPS, such as Novatel: https://www.novatel.com/solutions/anti-jamming-technology/ https://www.novatel.com/solutions/anti-jamming-technology/

exabrial 7y ago

I don't understand the end game of Iran's actions. While the US and allies are no angels, from a purely economic perspective, their actions seem to further isolate them economically and driving off potential wealth building/investment.

jddj 7y ago
They're up against a wall. They rapidly went from being on the cusp of a nuclear deal and relief of sanctions to being economically more or less broken and with the US using whatever means they can to build them up as an enemy, and it all came more or less out of left-field (who really could have seen Bolton and his agenda coming a couple of years ago?). I doubt Iran really understand their end game either, but I get the impression it doesn't matter much. They're going to wait and see just like the rest of us - the defence industry's propaganda machine is running this one. To avoid confusion, I'm personally both against another conflict in the middle east and not at all supportive of Iran's autocratic structure or their government's priorities -- but it does feel like we're being taken for another ride here.
LyndsySimon 7y ago
I'm no expert in this area, but I have been paying attention. Iran's government is much more fragmented than what I'm accustomed to as a US citizen - the impression I get is that there are factions in Iran that have differing and sometimes opposed agendas. It seems like the group poking the bear right now are in control of the military (or at least, their navy), but I've not seen any indication that the political class is in support. This wouldn't be unprecedented. Japan had similar issues in the leadup to World War 2. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mukden_Incident https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mukden_Incident
- exabrial 7y ago
  This is actually a fairly insightful. My original comment assume there was a central media source making all the statements and commanding the military. What you're saying is these are all separate entities?

nimbius 7y ago

call me a skeptic but the entire article from CNN is rather dubious. There are several man-made explanations that can account for aberrant behavior in GPS including lack of maintenance and unintended spurious emissions from regional RF towers. >A US defense official told CNN that Iran has placed GPS jammers on Iran-controlled Abu Musa Island, which lies in the Persian Gulf close to the entrance of the Strait of Hormuz. Cool. So who was she? When was this reported? did Congress receive this information? The US defense department has every incentive to overstate threats from Iran. >The official said the Iranian jammers have no effect on US military warships and aircraft. So, the jammers are magic jammers.

stunt 7y ago
> So, the jammers are magic jammers. I wouldn't be surprised to think military uses different navigation system than commercial ships.
- howard941 7y ago
  It does, one relying partially on the encrypted codes. See for ex http://mil-embedded.com/articles/securing-military-gps-spoofing-jamming-vulnerabilities/ http://mil-embedded.com/articles/securing-military-gps-spoof...

deleted 7y ago

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