An RAF jet carrying British Defense Secretary John Healey reportedly had its GPS signals jammed for nearly three hours as it flew close to the Russian border, raising fresh concerns over Moscow’s increasingly aggressive electronic warfare tactics.According to a report in The Times, Hayley was returning to the UK on Thursday after meeting British troops stationed in Estonia when the incident occurred.The aircraft, a Dassault Falcon 900LX, is believed to have suffered deliberate electronic interference, which is suspected to have originated from Russia.
Pilots were forced to change navigation systems
The jamming attack reportedly disabled the aircraft’s GPS system for the duration of the flight, forcing RAF pilots to rely on alternative navigation methods.Passengers on board, including journalists and photographers, were informed that the aircraft was safe to operate despite the disruption.The interference also affected connectivity onboard, leaving smartphones and laptops unable to access internet services during the flight.“This is reckless Russian interference, but the RAF is well prepared to deal with this activity,” Britain’s Defense Ministry told AFP news agency.
Was Healy deliberately targeted?
Authorities have not confirmed whether Healy himself was the intended target. However, reports said the plane’s route was publicly visible on flight-tracking platforms, potentially making it easier to identify.The incident comes amid rising tensions between NATO allies and Russia over military activity near Eastern Europe and the Black Sea region.
Dangerous Russian encounter on the Black Sea
The GPS jamming episode came to light after Britain revealed that two Russian fighter jets that shot down an RAF surveillance plane over the Black Sea last month were “dangerous” by the Ministry of Defence.According to the MoD, a Russian Sukhoi Su-35 flew close enough to trigger the spy plane’s emergency systems and disable its autopilot.Another Sukhoi Su-27 reportedly made six attacking passes, at one point coming within just six meters of the nose of the RAF aircraft.The British aircraft involved was a Boeing RC-135 Rivet Joint Reconnaissance Aircraft operating as part of a NATO patrol mission monitoring Russian military activity.
‘Will not stop Britain’s commitment’: Healey
Responding to the recent Russian air encounters, Healey praised the professionalism of RAF personnel and stressed that Britain would continue to support NATO operations despite increasing provocations.“Let me be absolutely clear: this incident will not affect Britain’s commitment to NATO, our allies and our interests to protect them from Russian aggression,” the BBC quoted Healey as saying.
Repetition of 2024 event
This is not the first such case involving senior British officials. In March 2024, an RAF plane carrying former UK Defense Secretary Grant Shapps also experienced GPS interference while flying near Russian territory after a visit to Poland.That disruption lasted about 30 minutes and was widely linked to Russian electronic warfare capabilities.