Russian Satellites Jammed GPS in 75 European Outages Since 2019, Scientists Say
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 5
Russian Satellites Jammed GPS in 75 European Outages Since 2019, Scientists Say
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 5
Summary
At least 3 of 75 GPS disruptions logged across Europe since 2019 were traced to Russian satellites, according to new research and a person familiar with a U.S. Air Force briefing.
Seconds-long outages appear to share the same structured signal, researchers said, suggesting the broader set of incidents may come from the same Russian satellite network even where data cannot yet prove it.
The European Union has already investigated the interference, though its findings remain classified; an EU spokesperson said the bloc is building systems to detect and locate future jamming.
Scientists said they cannot determine Moscow's motive—or whether the interference is deliberate—but warned the yearslong disruptions expose how vulnerable critical navigation services remain across Europe.
Is Russia's GPS disruption a deliberate test of NATO's defenses or an unintended consequence of its secret satellite network?
With global travel at risk, why has Russia's GPS interference continued for years without a decisive international response?
As GPS proves vulnerable, what new technology will secure our critical infrastructure from a global navigation blackout?
Escalating GPS Jamming and Spoofing in Europe: 2,700+ Monthly Incidents Disrupt Airspace, Shipping, and Communications
Overview
European airspace and digital communications are facing a sharp rise in GPS jamming and spoofing, especially since late 2025. This surge has caused major disruptions to both commercial and military flights, with incidents like a British Airways plane being misled over the Black Sea and a Ryanair flight losing GPS in the Baltic. These threats pose direct safety risks to civil aviation and have also impacted military operations. The growing interference extends to mobile networks and is linked to broader geopolitical tensions, highlighting an urgent and widespread problem affecting navigation and communication systems across Europe.