Assessing the Effectiveness of ADS-B Mitigations

Abstract

The rise in aerial traffic necessitates aircraft localisation methods that go beyond radar technology's built-in capabilities. The Automated Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) system is a novel aircraft localisation method that promises to provide the necessary precision to handle the current air traffic surge. The Federal Aviation Administration has, therefore, enforced ADS-B's deployment. However, the architecture of the ADS-B system holds several vulnerabilities. Most of these vulnerabilities are because ADS-B is designed to rely on wireless networks. This paper provides an in-depth analysis of the ADS-B threat landscape and potential mitigations to better understand their distinct characteristics and impact on the ADS-B system. Addressing these security concerns is imperative to ensure ADS-B systems' robustness and trustworthiness and safeguard the aviation industry from potential cyber threats. The paper concludes with a critical review of how well the proposed mitigations address the identified security threats.