Current Status and Performance Analysis of eLoran Pilot Service

Abstract

South Korea has been trial operating the enhanced Loran (eLoran) testbed system in the Incheon West Sea area since 2021. eLoran, is a representative ground-wave based navigational system used to prepare for any vulnerability of the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signals, that can provide positioning, navigation, timing, and data (PNT&D) service capabilities. The testbed system consists of an eLoran test transmitting station, two Loran stations synchronized to coordinated universal time (UTC), two differential Loran (dLoran) stations installed at the Pyeongtaek port and Incheon port, and an integrated operation and control system (IOCS). In this paper, we presented the current status of the eLoran pilot service, and results of the performance analysis conducted on the testbed environment. We obtained a position accuracy of 15.72 m (95%), within a 30 km radius from the dLoran station at Incheon Port, using additional second factor (ASF) corrections in the user aspect. Based on these results, eLoran shall be applied to the GNSS backup PNT system for maritime services.