An RAF jet carrying UK Defence Secretary John Healey had its GPS signal jammed while flying near the Russian border earlier this week. The incident occurred on Thursday as Healey returned to the UK after visiting British troops in Estonia. The signal disruption lasted for the entire three-hour flight, forcing pilots to rely on backup navigation systems. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has not yet commented on the incident, but Russia is believed to be responsible for the electronic interference.
The jamming incident came a day after reports emerged that Russian warplanes had intercepted an RAF spy plane over the Black Sea last month. In that incident, a Russian Su-35 fighter approached a Rivet Joint surveillance aircraft, triggering its emergency systems and disabling its autopilot. A Su-27 jet also conducted six passes in front of the RAF plane, coming as close as six metres (19ft) from its nose. The MoD described the flybys as the most dangerous Russian action since 2022, when a rogue pilot fired a missile at a Rivet Joint over the Black Sea.
During his visit to Estonia, Healey praised the professionalism of RAF crews during what he called unacceptable Russian flybys. The latest incident follows a similar 2024 GPS jamming of an RAF plane carrying then-Defence Secretary Grant Shapps near Russian territory. The MoD has not confirmed whether Healey was intentionally targeted, though the flight path was visible on aircraft tracking websites.
Background on Signal Jamming
The signal disruption affected not only the GPS but also parts of the cockpit dashboard, including the Dassault Falcon 900LX aircraft’s systems. A defence source told The Times that the interference could have potentially affected civilian aircraft, though the RAF was well prepared to handle such incidents. The signal could not be restored mid-flight and required a full system reboot upon landing.
Recent Escalations in Tensions
The incident follows a pattern of increasingly aggressive Russian military actions near NATO airspace. In addition to the Black Sea intercepts, Estonia reported shooting down a drone over its territory earlier this year. The UK has also announced plans to equip its jets with new anti-drone missile systems in response to rising threats.
NATO’s Role in Eastern Europe
Healey’s visit to Estonia coincided with NATO military exercises near the Russian border, where British troops are participating. The exercises are part of NATO’s broader strategy to deter Russian aggression in the region. The alliance has repeatedly condemned Russian intercepts as unsafe and provocative, though Moscow has not publicly acknowledged responsibility for the latest incidents.