The European Space Agency-funded ICING project, which uses the newly launched NorSat-TD satellite, is exploring alternative sources of positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) data due to the vulnerability of current sources to interference.

The researchers suggest that VHF data exchange (VDE) could be an alternative source of PNT data, potentially complementing terrestrial platforms for independent ranging mode PNT.

This could be a first step towards developing a new, multi-satellite, alternative PNT source to serve areas exposed to significant GPS interference.