On August 21st, the UK Ministry of Defense announced the construction of Europe's largest "silent hangar" to enhance the ability of military aircraft and other equipment to respond to Global Positioning System (GPS) signal interference. The facility will be constructed by the British company Kennetick, and the UK Ministry of Defence has awarded it a contract worth £ 20 million (approximately $26 million). According to the plan, the "Silent Hangar" will be put into use in 2026. It can simulate the harshest electromagnetic environment while reducing electromagnetic signal leakage and external interference. The main test objects include F-35 fighter jets, CH-47 "Chinook" helicopters, MQ-9B "Protector" drones, as well as other jet aircraft and armored vehicles. Analysts predict that the sixth generation fighter jet "Storm" currently under development in the UK may also undergo testing at the facility in the future. Considering that the F-35 fighter jet is 15.7 meters long, the MQ-9B drone has a wingspan of 24 meters, and the CH-47 helicopter is 5.68 meters high, the size of the "silent hangar" should be larger than these parameters. According to foreign media reports, the construction of a large "silent hangar" in the UK is mainly based on practical considerations. With the intensification of conflicts in Europe, the use of GPS jamming devices has become increasingly common. The global electronic warfare equipment market has grown from $9 billion in 2022 to $13.9 billion in 2023, and is expected to reach $21.8 billion by 2033. In April of this year, Estonia and other Baltic countries reported interference with their GPS signals. In July, the UK Defense Minister also encountered the same problem while flying on a British Air Force plane. Maria Iger, the UK Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, stated that the testing facility can "better protect our armed forces" in the face of increasingly widespread GPS interference. It is reported that the so-called "silent hangar" is essentially a military aircraft electromagnetic compatibility laboratory, built specifically for testing and evaluating the performance of military aircraft and their systems in complex electromagnetic environments. Such laboratories are usually equipped with shielded rooms, receivers, signal generators, power amplifiers, and antennas, which can create an "echo free" environment, simulate various electromagnetic environments, and conduct precise measurements to enhance the reliability and safety of military aircraft and their communication, navigation, and weapon systems during mission execution, while ensuring that there is no interference with surrounding equipment during testing. It is worth noting that with the development of military equipment towards informatization and artificial intelligence, the application of electronic systems is becoming increasingly widespread. At present, electromagnetic compatibility testing is not limited to military aircraft, but also extends to ground weapons and equipment such as armored vehicles. The newly built 'silent hangar' in the UK will also provide testing grounds for these equipment. Analysts believe that the construction of the 'silent hangar' will receive support from the new UK government. However, considering the decline in industrial and technological levels in the UK, it still faces certain difficulties in independently building a "silent hangar" and may seek technical support from the United States and other European countries. (New Society)