Russia is believed to have jammed the satellite signal on an RAF plane taking Defence Secretary Grant Shapps back to the UK from Poland.
The GPS signal was interfered with for about 30 minutes while the jet flew near the Russian territory of Kaliningrad on Wednesday, according to a report in The Times.
Mobile phones could not connect to the internet and the aircraft, a Dassault 900LX Falcon jet, had to use alternative methods to determine its location.
Mr Shapps, who was travelling with his staff and several journalists, was returning from a military training site in Orzysz, Poland, where he had watched hundreds of troops participate in Steadfast Defender, the biggest NATO exercise since the Cold War.
Experts told The Times it was not clear whether Mr Shapps was targeted but the plane’s flight path could be seen on aircraft tracking websites.
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A defence source told the newspaper: “While the RAF are well prepared to deal with this, it still puts an unnecessary risk on civilian aircraft and could potentially endanger people’s lives.
“There is no excuse for this and it’s wildly irresponsible on Russia’s part.”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s spokesperson confirmed the incident happened on Wednesday but added it was “not unusual”.
They said: “It didn’t threaten the safety of the aircraft and it is not unusual for aircraft to experience GPS jamming near Kaliningrad, which is of course Russian territory.”
The Ministry of Defence has not commented.
Kaliningrad is separated from the Russian mainland, and is situated between Poland and Lithuania.
It is Russia’s only ice-free port on the Baltic Sea.
The UK’s relationship with Russia has deteriorated in recent years, particularly after the country launched a full-scale invasion of its neighbour Ukraine in February 2022.
This incident is reminiscent of the Cold War, when the Soviet Union and the United States would often jam each other’s military signals. It is clear that Russia is still using these tactics to try to intimidate its opponents.
I’m not sure I believe this story. It sounds like something that the UK government would make up to justify increasing defense spending.
I am deeply concerned about the news that Russia has jammed signals on the RAF plane of the UK’s defense secretary. This is a dangerous and irresponsible act that could have led to a serious accident. I urge Russia to stop this reckless behavior and to respect the sovereignty of other countries.
I find it hard to believe that Russia would do something so reckless and dangerous. They must have known that jamming the signals on the RAF plane could have put lives at risk. This is a clear escalation of tensions between the two countries.
Of course Russia is jamming signals on the RAF plane. They’re just trying to make sure that the UK doesn’t get too close to their precious Crimea.
I’ve been to Russia many times, and I can tell you that they’re not the kind of people who would do something like this. This is just a made-up story by the Western media to make Russia look bad.
Maybe Russia is just trying to tell the UK’s defense secretary to stay out of their airspace. After all, it’s not like they have a history of annexing other countries’ territory.
This incident is a clear indication of the growing tensions between Russia and the UK. It is important to remember that both countries have nuclear weapons, and any conflict between them could have devastating consequences.
The RAF plane is equipped with state-of-the-art technology. It is unlikely that Russia would be able to jam the signals without being detected. This raises the question of whether this was a deliberate act of aggression by Russia.
I urge both Russia and the UK to exercise restraint and to avoid any further escalation of tensions. This incident could have serious consequences for both countries and for the world as a whole.
Russia is at it again. This time, they’re jamming signals on the RAF plane of the UK’s defense secretary. This is a dangerous and irresponsible act that could have put lives at risk. Russia needs to be held accountable for its actions.
This is a serious incident that could have had disastrous consequences. Russia needs to be condemned for its reckless behavior. This is not the first time that Russia has interfered with British military aircraft, and it is clear that they are determined to continue this dangerous game.
Maybe Russia is just trying to give the UK’s defense secretary a taste of his own medicine. After all, the UK has been jamming Russian signals for years.
Let’s not forget that Russia and the UK are both permanent members of the UN Security Council. They have a responsibility to work together to maintain peace and security in the world.