Russian GPS Jamming Disrupts Thousands of European Flights — What Is Going On?
Yesterday’s news reported that between August and March, approximately 46,000 flights encountered satellite navigation issues over the Baltic region in Europe, experiencing GPS jamming and spoofing.
This interference disrupts wireless communication systems and misleads pilots about their aircraft’s actual location. Among the affected flights were 2,309 Ryanair flights, 1,368 Wizz Air flights, 82 British Airways flights, and four EasyJet flights.
Pilots from several airlines have disclosed that they now disable their GPS navigation systems when flying over the northern and Baltic European regions to prevent spoofed data from compromising other aircraft navigation systems.
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What actually happened?
Countries in northern Europe bordering Russia, as well as those in the Baltic region, are reporting widespread jamming, raising concerns for both shipping and aviation safety. Russia is suspected of launching “extremely dangerous” electronic attacks, with notable instances of GPS denial occurring where Russian garrisons, like the one in Kaliningrad, are present.
Following previous reports raising concerns about jamming and spoofing events in the region, this news underscores the growing scale of the issue. Instances where aircraft avionics systems, including GPS, INS, autopilot, and others, seem to have been compromised suggest a trend similar to that observed in the Middle East since late 2023 is now unfolding in Europe.
For instance, The Norwegian Communication Authority has recorded 44 days of GPS disturbances in 2024, indicating near-daily occurrences. Additionally, several countries such as Finland, Poland, and Sweden have reported GPS disruptions. Lieutenant Colonel Joakim Paasikivi of Sweden expressed concern, attributing the interference to “Russian influence activities or so-called hybrid warfare.”
Jürgen Nauditt, a commentator on conflict-related issues, pointed out the impact of Russian electronic warfare tests in Kaliningrad, leaving significant areas of Poland and the Suwalki corridor without GPS coverage.
What kind of technology is used?
According to available reports, satellite interference originates from multiple sources, as Russia has developed various electronic warfare “jamming” solutions. These can be stationary, such as satellite dishes, or mobile, found on vessels, aircraft, drones, or trucks.
Western intelligence services are concerned about a top-secret Russian electronic weapon supposedly located in Kaliningrad, which has been jamming GPS technology on flights and ships along NATO’s eastern flank.
This fixed jamming system, known as Tobol (14Ts227), is reportedly one of fewer than ten such weapons in Russia’s arsenal. However, images circulating on social media purportedly showing the device have not been verified.
An expert in electronic warfare explained that the satellite dish could disrupt GPS technology in multiple directions, potentially defending Kaliningrad from incoming missiles.
Some of the sources emitting GPS jamming, with their mobile nature, are likely from ships of the Russian Navy. Reports point to electronic warfare exercises conducted by units of the Russian Baltic Fleet in the Kaliningrad area since mid-December 2023, as cited by Ukrainian media.
Media reports also mention the deployment of bus-sized trucks for jamming in recent years. These trucks, easily detectable in satellite imagery, feature “military-grade” equipment, indicating extensive Russian development rather than commercial purchase, as per a recent CSIS threat assessment report.
What are the risks?
Reports indicate that such spoofing and jamming can wreak havoc for commercial airliners. If similar incidents occur with ships, collisions could ensue due to the inability to see each other on navigation systems.
Months of Russian GPS spoofing in the Baltic Sea not only pose safety risks but also harm the regional economy by interfering with aircraft and shipping. Prolonged GPS disruption could disrupt logistics, as delivery drivers rely on GPS to reach their destinations.
A spokesperson for easyJet emphasized the presence of multiple navigation systems onboard commercial aircraft, along with protocols to mitigate GPS-related issues. Similarly, Ryanair’s spokesperson noted a rise in intermittent GPS interference affecting all airlines. Ryanair aircraft are equipped with multiple location systems, including GPS, and crews follow standard operating procedures to switch to alternate systems if GPS malfunctions.
According to experts, Russia’s actions aim to undermine stability, self-confidence, trust in the West, and unity. While reports claim no direct threat to aircraft safety, defense intelligence describes such actions as profoundly irresponsible.
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