GPS disruption in Europe impacts air traffic, experts point to Russian jammers

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

OVER THE WEEKEND, MORE THAN 1,600 AIRPLANES WERE IMPACTED BY PERSISTENT INTERFERENCE WITH NAVIGATIONAL SIGNALS IN EASTERN EUROPE.

AIRCRAFT FLYING IN PROXIMITY TO THE BALTIC REGION AND SEVERAL NATO NATIONS IN EASTERN EUROPE HAVE REPORTED DISRUPTIONS TO THEIR GPS SIGNALS.

ACCORDING TO OPEN-SOURCE INTELLIGENCE, JAMMING AFFECTED 1,614 AIRPLANES, PREDOMINANTLY CIVILIAN AIRCRAFT. INITIAL REPORTS SHOWED EXTENSIVE INTERFERENCE ACROSS POLAND AND SOUTHERN SWEDEN, WITH LATER MAPS INDICATING INTERFERENCE LIMITED TO CERTAIN AREAS OF NORTHERN POLAND.

A U.S. MILITARY DRONE MADE HEADLINES LAST WEEK AFTER AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN POLISH AIRSPACE AFTER EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTIES DURING A ROUTINE TRAINING OPERATION. THE PENTAGON CONFIRMED A U.S. MILITARY DRONE MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN POLISH AIRSPACE, STATING THE AIRCRAFT LOST CONNECTION WITH ITS COMMAND STATION, HINDERING ITS OPERATION. 

INTERFERING WITH GPS SIGNALS CAN POSE SERIOUS RISKS TO MANNED OR UNMANNED PLANES, POTENTIALLY CAUSING CONFUSION IN NAVIGATION SYSTEMS.

EXPERTS SUGGEST THE RECENT UPTICKS IN GPS INTERFERENCE HAVE BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO JAMMERS IN RUSSIA’S KALININGRAD REGION, SITUATED BETWEEN NATO MEMBERS POLAND AND LITHUANIA.

 SIMILAR INCIDENTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN THE MIDDLE EAST, WITH AIRCRAFT BEING TARGETED BY FAKE GPS SIGNALS, LEADING TO A COMPLETE LOSS OF NAVIGATIONAL CAPABILITY.

AUTHORITIES HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERNS THAT RUSSIAN INTERFERENCE AIMS TO CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE OF THREAT AND HELPLESSNESS IN THE REGION.