An RAF jet carrying Defence Secretary John Healey had its GPS signals jammed while flying near the Russian border this week, in an incident believed to be orchestrated by Moscow.
Incident Details
John Healey was returning to the United Kingdom from Estonia, where he had visited British troops, when the electronic attack occurred on Thursday, according to The Times. The jamming disabled GPS for the entire three-hour flight, preventing smartphones and laptops from connecting to the internet and forcing pilots to rely on alternative navigation systems.
It remains unclear whether Mr Healey was specifically targeted, but the flight path was visible on aircraft tracking websites, the newspaper reported. Passengers, including photographers and a reporter, were informed that the Dassault Falcon 900LX aircraft could continue to operate safely.
Official Response
A defence source told The Independent: “This is reckless Russian interference, but the RAF is well prepared to deal with this activity.”
The incident follows a recent revelation by the Ministry of Defence that two Russian jets had “repeatedly and dangerously” intercepted an RAF spy plane over the Black Sea. A Russian Su-35 jet flew so close to the British reconnaissance aircraft that it triggered its emergency systems, including disabling the autopilot. Additionally, a Russian Su-27 flew within six metres of the unarmed Rivet Joint’s nose and conducted six passes in front of it.
The MoD described this as the most dangerous Russian action against a British Rivet Joint aircraft since a missile was fired over the Black Sea in 2022.
Previous Incidents
In March 2024, an RAF plane carrying then-Defence Secretary Grant Shapps had its GPS signal jammed while flying near Russian territory. The satellite signal was disrupted for approximately 30 minutes as the flight returned to the UK from Poland.
These recurring incidents highlight ongoing tensions between the UK and Russia, with electronic warfare and close aerial encounters becoming increasingly common in the region.
