An RAF jet carrying UK Defence Secretary John Healey reportedly had its GPS signals jammed for nearly three hours while flying close to the Russian border, triggering fresh concerns over Moscow’s increasingly aggressive electronic warfare tactics.Healey was returning to the UK on Thursday after visiting British troops stationed in Estonia when the incident occurred, according to a report by The Times.The aircraft, a Dassault Falcon 900LX, is believed to have faced deliberate electronic interference suspected to have originated from Russia.
Pilots forced to switch navigation systems
The jamming attack reportedly knocked out the aircraft’s GPS system for the duration of the flight, forcing RAF pilots to rely on alternative navigation methods.Passengers on board, including journalists and photographers, were informed that the aircraft remained safe to operate despite the disruption.The interference also affected onboard connectivity, leaving smartphones and laptops unable to access internet services during the flight.“This is reckless Russian interference, but the RAF is well prepared to deal with this activity,” the UK Ministry of Defence told news agency AFP.
Was Healey deliberately targeted?
Officials have not confirmed whether Healey himself was the intended target. However, reports noted that the aircraft’s route was publicly visible on flight-tracking platforms, potentially making it easier to identify.The incident comes amid rising tensions between NATO allies and Russia over military activity near Eastern Europe and the Black Sea region.
Dangerous Russian encounters over Black Sea
The GPS jamming episode surfaced just a day after Britain revealed that two Russian fighter jets had carried out what the Ministry of Defence called “dangerous” interceptions of an RAF surveillance aircraft over the Black Sea last month.According to the MoD, a Russian Sukhoi Su-35 flew close enough to trigger the spy plane’s emergency systems and disable its autopilot.Another Sukhoi Su-27 reportedly made six aggressive passes, at one point coming within just six metres of the RAF aircraft’s nose.The British aircraft involved was a Boeing RC-135 Rivet Joint reconnaissance plane operating as part of a NATO patrol mission monitoring Russian military activity.
‘Will not deter UK commitment’: Healey
Reacting to the recent Russian air encounters, Healey praised the professionalism of RAF personnel and insisted Britain would continue supporting NATO operations despite escalating provocations.“Let me be very clear: this incident will not deter the UK’s commitment to defend NATO, our allies and our interests from Russian aggression,” Healey was quoted as saying by BBC.
Repeat of 2024 incident
This is not the first such case involving senior British officials. In March 2024, an RAF aircraft carrying former UK defence secretary Grant Shapps also experienced GPS interference while flying near Russian territory after a visit to Poland.That disruption lasted around 30 minutes and was widely linked to Russian electronic warfare capabilities.
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