Russian GPS Jamming and Air Intercepts Affect RAF Aircrafts

Reporting this week revealed that an RAF aircraft carrying UK Defence Secretary John Healey experienced a three-hour loss of GPS and internet connectivity while flying near the Russian border following a visit to Estonia. Russia is believed to have been responsible for the interference. Separately, the Ministry of Defence disclosed on May 20 that two Russian military aircraft had “repeatedly and dangerously” intercepted an RAF surveillance aircraft operating over the Black Sea last month.

The incidents come amid growing European concern over GPS jamming, spoofing activity and aircraft interceptions near Russia’s borders and in international airspace. Illustrating the scale of the activity, Lithuania’s communications regulator stated that the number of spoofing systems deployed in the Kaliningrad region increased from three to 36 since early 2025, with the capability to falsify GPS signals across a radius of up to 450km, increasing the risk of navigation disruption affecting both military and civilian aircraft operating across the region.