An RAF aircraft carrying UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps was subjected to GPS signal jamming as it flew in proximity to Kaliningrad, Russia’s Baltic exclave. The incident occurred while Shapps was returning to the UK from Poland, where discussions on supporting Ukraine amidst ongoing tensions with Russia took place. Government and defence sources have labeled the act as “wildly irresponsible.”
The GPS interference lasted for approximately 30 minutes, during which time mobile phones aboard the aircraft were unable to connect to the internet. The crew resorted to alternative navigation methods to ascertain their location. Such GPS-jamming tactics are known to be executed using both aircraft and ground-based equipmen.
This is not an isolated incident, as aircraft departing from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus frequently encounter jamming, presumably originating from Russian equipment stationed in Syria. However, it is relatively rare for a plane carrying a high-profile official like Shapps to be targeted. Rishi Sunak’s spokesperson confirmed the occurrence, noting that while the jamming did not pose a direct threat to the aircraft’s safety, it represents a reckless disregard for civilian air traffic that could potentially endanger lives.
The location of Kaliningrad, equipped with substantial electronic warfare capabilities, makes it a notable hotspot for such interference. The Institute for the Study of War in Washington has reported an increase in Russian GPS jamming activities across Poland and the Baltic states, affecting both military exercises and commercial aviation and shipping.
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