An RAF Dassault Falcon 900LX carrying Defence Secretary John Healey was reportedly targeted by a suspected Russian electronic attack while returning to Britain from meetings with troops near the Russian border. Shortly after leaving southeast Estonia, satellite navigation aboard the aircraft was completely disabled, leaving it without GPS capability for the three-hour flight. The disruption partially affected cockpit instruments and prevented passengers from connecting laptops and mobile phones to the internet. RAF pilots switched to backup navigation procedures that calculate position using aircraft movement rather than satellite signals. Officials said the aircraft remained safe, but GPS could not be restored mid-air because it would have required a full system restart. A defence source condemned the alleged interference as reckless and potentially dangerous to civilian aviation.
"The incident is said to have occurred shortly after the Defence Secretary departed southeast Estonia on Thursday following meetings with British soldiers deployed close to hostile territory. According to The Times, satellite navigation aboard the RAF's Dassault Falcon 900LX was completely disabled, leaving the aircraft without GPS capability during the entire three-hour flight back to the UK. Moscow is suspected of the jamming operation using military assets located just over the border, in an area already known for ongoing electronic interference associated with Russian activity."
"The disruption reportedly caused cockpit instruments to partially malfunction, while passengers on board found laptops and mobile phones unable to connect to the internet throughout the journey. RAF pilots were forced to switch to backup navigation procedures, relying on systems that calculate position through aircraft movement rather than satellite signals. Although officials stressed the aircraft remained safe to fly, the GPS systems could not be restored mid-air because doing so would have required a full restart of the jet's systems."
"One pilot reportedly described the incident as highly unusual, saying he had not experienced such conditions "in a long time". A defence source condemned the alleged interference as "reckless" behaviour by Russia that could potentially endanger civilian aviation, while insisting RAF crews were fully trained to handle such scenarios. Mr Healey had been visiting troops from the British Army's 4th Light Brigade - known as the Black Rats - who are taking part in Exercise Spring Storm near NATO's eastern frontier."
Read at London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com
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