Share Source: The Telegraph
A British Air Force aircraft carrying Defence Secretary John Healey experienced an electronic attack on May 21 as it returned to the UK from Estonia.
Key takeaways:
- A British Air Force plane with the Defence Secretary on board was subjected to an electronic attack by Russia.
- Russian military interference in airspace necessitates enhanced security and preparedness of defence forces.
Russia disabled GPS on a British military aircraft near its borders
The Dassault Falcon 900LX aircraft was flying near the Russian border when its GPS was completely disabled for the entire three-hour flight. Passengers’ smartphones and laptops also lost their internet connection.
The pilots switched to a backup navigation system, and the aircraft continued its flight normally.
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Passengers, including photographers and a journalist, were informed that the aircraft could safely continue its journey. The flight path was visible on publicly available flight tracking websites; it is unknown whether Healey was a deliberate target.
This is reckless interference by Russia, but the RAF is well-prepared for such activities, a defence source stated.
A few days prior, the British Ministry of Defence reported a dangerous pursuit of a British reconnaissance aircraft over the Black Sea. A Russian Su-35 approached so closely that emergency systems activated and the autopilot disengaged.
Another Su-27 flew within six meters of the nose of the British Rivet Joint six times. The MoD described this as Russia’s most dangerous action against a British aircraft since 2022, when Russia fired a missile over the Black Sea.
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Late last year, Putin dispatched nuclear bombers towards Britain’s northern borders; a prolonged flight over the Norwegian Sea forced NATO to scramble fighter jets. Earlier this year, Sweden intercepted two Russian Su-35s escorting a Tu-22M bomber over the Baltic Sea.