Russia could use a top-secret electronic weapon to disrupt GPS systems on planes and ships, experts have warned, as thousands of British holiday flights are believed to have fallen victim to ‘extremely dangerous’ signal jamming attacks.
Military chiefs have warned in recent months that a system known as Tobol, based in the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, could disrupt signals on planes and boats, causing them to cause “jammings.”
Last night it emerged that passenger planes have been experiencing GPS jamming and spoofing, which disrupts wireless communications systems and uses false signals to trick pilots into believing the plane is in a different location than where it is.
The European Aviation Safety Agency warned in January that authorities had seen a “sharp increase” in the number of jamming and spoofing attacks, but did not say who was behind them.
Shortly afterwards, an RAF plane carrying Defense Secretary Grant Shapps had its signal jammed as it flew close to Kaliningrad – with insiders blaming Russia for what they called an ‘extremely irresponsible’ attack.
The suspected electronic weapon causing these disruptions is likely located at the Russian military compound in Kaliningrad (pictured), located between Lithuania and Poland, according to Western intelligence findings.
Aircraft logs have revealed interference hotspots in the Baltic, Black Sea and eastern Mediterranean, with a map showing where the attacks are believed to have taken place
Vladimir Putin’s forces have been accused of using a secret weapon to jam GPS signals
A defense source said at the time: ‘While the RAF is well prepared to deal with this, it still poses an unnecessary risk to civilian aircraft and could potentially endanger human life.’
The expected threat to civilian aircraft appears to have come true The sun Yesterday it was reported that 46,000 flights between August and March recorded problems with satellite navigation (satnav) over the Baltic region.
This included 2,309 Ryanair flights, 1,368 Wizz Air flights, 82 British Airways flights and four EasyJet flights.
The electronic weapon believed to be causing aircraft disruptions in the area is likely stationed at the Russian military base in Kaliningrad, a Russian territory between Lithuania and Poland, according to Western intelligence findings.
It is reported to be a large satellite dish, although the images circulating on social media claiming to show the device have not been verified. Aerial photographs show the suspected location.
According to Estonia’s military chief, there has been disruption in GPS guidance of air and sea traffic in Finland, the Baltic states and Poland in recent months.
“What we have seen is a malfunctioning GPS for ships and air traffic,” said General Martin Harem, commander of the Estonian Armed Forces. Telegraph.
“And we really don’t know if they are [Russia] want to achieve something or just practice and test their equipment.’
The fixed jamming system in Kaliningrad would be one of about ten such facilities across Russia. Pictured: A photo believed to show the location
It is reported to be a large satellite dish, although the images circulating on social media claiming to show the device have not been verified. An aerial photo shows the suspected location
Now aircraft logs have reportedly revealed interference hotspots in the Baltic, Black Sea and eastern Mediterranean, with a map showing where the attacks are believed to have taken place.
Tobol likely works by broadcasting a signal on the same frequency as the plane or ship’s satellites, known as downlink jamming, which prevents them from receiving the legitimate signal. The Washington Post reports an expert on the program.
Although the fixed jamming system in Kaliningrad is reportedly one of about ten such facilities in Russia, its strategic location near Ukraine, along with another site in Crimea and one outside Moscow, makes it suitable for both ‘offensive’ and ‘defensive’ activities. activities.
Brian Weeden, director of program planning at the Secure World Foundation, said that if Tobol can analyze signals and send countersignals, “you could probably use those same capabilities to offensively disrupt someone else’s satellite.”
This is the flight path that Mr Shapps’ plane took before it was hit by a Russian cyber attack just outside Kaliningrad
An RAF plane carrying Defense Secretary Grant Shapps had its signal jammed as it flew close to Kaliningrad
Dr. Jack Watling, a war expert at the Royal United Services Institute think tank, told The Sun that Russia has “long used GPS jamming as a tool of intimidation” and that the country is “projecting it beyond NATO’s borders.”
“Wherever there is a large Russian garrison you see GPS denial and there is one in Kaliningrad,” he said. “They just turned that stuff on because there are standing orders.”
An electronic warfare expert said the satellite dish could be used to disrupt GPS technology in different directions, which could protect Kaliningrad from possible incoming missiles.
Dr. Thomas Withington of RUSI told the Telegraph earlier this year that the device was likely used as a defensive weapon due to Putin’s fears about GPS-guided weapons available to other countries.
The fixed jamming system is called Tobol and is said to be one of about ten facilities in use across Russia. It reportedly resembles a large satellite dish, but images circulating on social media claiming to show the device could not be verified
Causing a GPS jam on these usually very accurate missiles can cause them to miss their target.
However, if the weapon is used against civilian rather than military targets, it can wreak havoc on commercial aircraft.
Recently there have been reports of planes suddenly veering off tracking sites – likely because their GPS was disrupted.
Experts warned that if the same thing happens to ships, they could collide because they cannot see each other on navigation systems.
Although ships have other means of navigation, it would be worrying if these systems failed, Dr Withington explains.
Any prolonged GPS outage could cause chaos in logistics as delivery drivers rely on it to reach their destinations.
General Harem said, “Whatever they do [Russia] What we are doing here has one goal: to undermine our stability, our self-confidence, our trust in the West, our unity and cohesion.”
Just hours after the electronic warfare attack on Mr Shapps’ plane, Britain, the US and newest NATO member Sweden sent electronic surveillance planes to the Baltic Sea.
The threat posed by Russian electromagnetic and electronic warfare is not limited to the airspace around Kaliningrad.
The Kremlin has stationed similar jamming systems in Syria in an attempt to jam unprotected aircraft and across Russia.