Modern societies depend on stable navigation and timing signals − not only for transport or logistics, but also for energy supply, telecommunications, and financial systems. Yet these GNSS-based services (such as GPS or Galileo) are vulnerable to interference and outages. Around the world, robust complementary solutions are therefore being explored to ensure reliable services in critical situations. One such alternative is eLoran, and Germany has now tested it for the first time in a decade, together with IABG.
For the first time since the end of Loran-C operations in Germany ten years ago, an eLoran signal has been transmitted again. A mobile tactical transmitter was active over the past three months as part of a research and technology project conducted jointly by IABG and the German Armed Forces. The goal is to evaluate a highly robust, non-satellite-based complement for positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services.
The mobile eLoran transmitter (“tactical mobile Tx”) was operated temporarily for test purposes. IABG is responsible for the technical concept, the execution of the measurement campaigns, and the analysis. As an industrial partner, the U.S. company UrsaNav − one of the world’s leading providers of Loran and eLoran systems −is involved.
Initial results have already gained international attention: At ION GNSS+ 2025 in Baltimore, the study “Test and Evaluation of an eLoran Tactile Mobile System” was presented − an important step that underscores Germany’s role as a European pioneer in resilient PNT architectures.
The second project phase has been running since early 2025 and will be completed by the end of the year. At that point, reliable data on the performance of mobile eLoran technology in tactical and dynamic scenarios will be available.
Why This Project Matters for Security
The protection of critical infrastructure today depends heavily on precise timing and positioning data. Power grids synchronize load flows, telecommunications networks coordinate data packets, financial markets rely on sub-millisecond time stamps, and transport systems depend on accurate positioning. Many of these functions rely on GNSS alone −a potential single point of failure. eLoran offers important advantages:
- Independent of satellites:
Signals are transmitted from the ground, not from space. This keeps them available even if GNSS is disrupted or manipulated. - Highly resistant to interference and failure:
High transmission power makes eLoran extremely robust against jamming and spoofing. - Wide coverage:
A small number of transmitters can cover large geographic areas −an ideal complement to existing systems. - Military and civilian applicability:
A common technical foundation supports both defence-related use cases and critical civilian applications.
For Germany and Europe, exploring such alternatives is a key element in strengthening technological sovereignty in the PNT domain while increasing the resilience of critical infrastructure. The tests conducted by IABG and the German Armed Forces make an important contribution to this effort.