HL Deb 30 March 1999 vol 599 c36WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the recent disruption of Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) navigation signals off the coast of North Carolina was deliberate; whether it was part of a NATO exercise or of a purely United States Atlantic Command exercise; what warning was given to GPS users of the disruption; and how long did it last. [HL1566]

Lord Gilbert

The recent planned disruption of the Global Positioning System in an area off the east coast of the USA was part of the NATO Joint Fleet Exercise 99–1. As such, it was carefully co-ordinated between the US Department of Defense and the Federal Aviation Administration. Maritime and aviation communities were warned in advance through the normal channels and given the times and dates of the planned disruption, the area affected, and the likely effect on GPS users. Such planned disruptions are not unusual; at the same time there were five other similar warnings in effect within the US due to GPS trials and exercises. The disruption for the NATO exercise took place at the following times:

  1. (a) 1300–1700 EST on 22 February 1999
  2. (b) 1300–1700 EST on 23 February 1999
  3. (c) 1230–1630 EST on 24 February 1999
  4. (d) 0900–1300 EST on 25 February 1999
  5. (e) 0900–1300 EST on 25 February 1999
  6. (f) 0900–1300 EST on 27 February 1999.