An RAF jet carrying Defence Secretary John Healey had its GPS signal jammed near the Russian border, in an incident believed to be orchestrated by Russia. The electronic attack occurred as Healey was visiting British soldiers in Estonia, forcing pilots to rely on a challenging navigation system for the entire three-hour flight. Smartphones and laptops onboard were unable to connect to the internet.
Incident Details
Despite the jamming, the Dassault Falcon 900LX aircraft was able to fly safely, passengers were informed. It remains unclear whether Healey was specifically targeted, but the aircraft was visible on tracking websites, according to The Times. A defence source commented, 'This is reckless Russian interference, but the RAF is well prepared to deal with this activity.'
Recent Russian Aggression
Just last week, the Ministry of Defence reported that two Russian jets had 'repeatedly and dangerously' intercepted an RAF spy plane over the Black Sea. In that incident, a Russian Su-35 triggered a British reconnaissance aircraft's emergency systems and disabled the autopilot after flying too close. Additionally, an Su-27 flew within six metres of the Rivet Joint's nose. The MoD described this as the most dangerous Russian action against a British Rivet Joint since 2022, when a plane fired a missile over the Black Sea.
This latest GPS jamming incident highlights ongoing tensions between the UK and Russia, with the RAF demonstrating preparedness to counter such electronic warfare tactics.
