Russia Jams GPS On RAF Jet Carrying UK Defence Secretary John Healey Near Kaliningrad

An RAF jet carrying UK defence secretary John Healey had its signal jammed for the entire three-hour flight after it flew near the Russian border, with the Times reporting that the satellite signal on his government aircraft was knocked out.

The BBC said Russia is believed to be behind the attack, which disabled the plane’s GPS and forced pilots to use a different navigation system during the three-hour flight.

Al Jazeera

The Times reported that laptops and smartphones could not connect to the internet and that pilots were forced to use “revisionary” inertial navigation systems to calculate their location.

The Times also said parts of the dashboard malfunctioned in the cockpit of the Dassault Falcon 900LX aircraft, and that passengers were assured the aircraft could still operate safely.

The BBC added that the incident took place on Thursday after Healey visited British soldiers in Estonia and was travelling back to the UK when it happened.

The Times reported that it was unclear if the defence secretary was deliberately targeted, but that the flight path was visible on aircraft tracking websites.

A spokesman for 10 Downing Street said, "The aircraft carrying the Defence Secretary experienced a temporary GPS jamming as it passed near Kaliningrad," while also assuring that the Falcon 900LX's security "has not been compromised."

Apa.az

The BBC said Healey spoke to UK service members taking part in a Nato military exercise near the Russian border during his visit to Estonia.

The BBC also linked the jamming to a separate recent incident, saying it happened a day after two Russian warplanes had "repeatedly and dangerously" intercepted an RAF spy plane over the Black Sea.

The Times further described the broader setting around the visit, including that Healey received briefings from senior British Army officers at a secretive location near Voru, southeast Estonia.

The Times reported that the satellite signal could not be restored without shutting down and rebooting the jet, which was impossible while airborne, leaving the navigation disruption in place for the duration of the flight.

The BBC said the Ministry of Defence has been contacted for comment, while noting that it is not known if Healey was purposely targeted.

Zone Militaire said the incident was first reported by The Times and that the British Prime Minister's Office confirmed the report, while also stating that it is not unusual for aircraft to suffer GPS jamming near the Russian enclave.

The Times described how dealing with jamming and spying is part of daily life for UK soldiers in the area, including surveillance from Orlan drones and the use of devices that monitor local frequencies and emit beeps when incoming drones are detected.

The Times also said defence chiefs fear that President Putin could be ready to invade Europe by the end of the decade if a peace deal is struck with Ukraine, with Estonia deemed one of the most likely targets.