The Indian Air Force aircraft involved in Operation Brahma, a relief mission initiated to assist earthquake-hit Myanmar, faced a cyber attack, as per a report by India Today.

The C-130J aircraft faced a GPS spoofing attack, in which the real-time coordinates were altered, misleading the aircraft's navigation system, the report added.

Upon sensing the attack, the pilots immediately switched to the internal navigation system (INS). Similar spoofing attacks have been witnessed along the border with Pakistan, especially in the Jammu and Amritsar regions. As per the report, 465 cases have been reported since November 2023.

What is GPS spoofing?

Notably, spoofing is a type of cyberattack in which the perpetrators send fake signals to override the real signals to confuse systems.

Operation Brahma was initiated by the Air Force after a strong earthquake of 7.7 magnitude brought devastation to Myanmar on March 28. The tremors were felt in the neighbouring countries, including the northeastern region of India.

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Apart from providing relief materials and medical assistance, the IAF is also assisting in the search and rescue operation.

India becomes first reponder

As one of the first responders, India dispatched the first batch of humanitarian aid to Myanmar on March 29. As part of the aid, NDRF and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare sent 15 tonnes of supplies using C-130J aircraft. These included sleeping bags, blankets, tents, ready-to-eat food, solar lamps, water purifiers, hygiene kits, generator sets, and essential medical supplies such as paracetamol, gloves, antibiotics, syringes, and bandages.

India's efforts to assist the natural disaster-hit neighbour won hearts and garnered praises from the locals and the diaspora.

Rajul Goenka, President of the Myanmar-India Business Chamber, highlighted the collaborative spirit, stating that both Indian and Myanmar communities work hand in hand "during both prosperous times and even these difficult times".

ALSO READ: India’s Swift Aid In Myanmar Earthquake Crisis Wins Praise From Locals And Diasporas