Enhancing maritime navigation: a novel approach to validateGNSS solutions with a single R-Mode station

The reliance on global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) for modern vessel poses a critical point of failure. GNSS is vulnerable to jamming, spoofing, and other threats that can increase the risk of accidents. In response, alternative sources of navigational information are being sought. R-Mode offers a promising solution by leveraging terrestrial infrastructure to provide PNT data independently of GNSS. A minimum of three stations in view is needed to obtain a position and timing information. While a single R-Mode station in view cannot provide independent positioning, the received data can still be used to validate a GNSS solutions and detect threats like spoofing or outages. In this study, we introduce a novel approach to validate GNSS positions using R-Mode ranging information from a single station by combining the expected accuracy of the measurements with the geometrical relationship between the GNSS solution and the known R-Mode transmitter location. Our method was tested with real measurements in post-processing, where simulated spoofing events were introduced to mimic real-world scenarios. During these events, the GNSS solution deviated by approximately 100 meters from original position. Our technique successfully detected the spoofing instances and raised warnings to increase the awareness of GNSS-based navigation threats.