Russia jams GPS on RAF jet carrying UK Defence Secretary Healey
On May 21, 2026, an RAF Dassault Falcon 900LX carrying UK Defence Secretary John Healey had its GPS and communications signals jammed for three hours while flying near the Russian border. Healey was returning from visiting British troops in Estonia. Russia is suspected of the electronic attack, forcing pilots to use alternative navigation systems. The incident follows a pattern of Russian electronic warfare and dangerous intercepts of NATO aircraft, including a recent near-collision over the Black Sea. Healey condemned the action as reckless but reaffirmed UK commitment to NATO.
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Russia jams British jet carrying Defence Secretary John Healey
A Royal Air Force jet carrying British Defence Secretary John Healey was reportedly hit by an electronic warfare attack after flying near the Russian border. According to The Times, the satellite signal on the government aircraft was knocked out during the three-hour return flight from southeast Estonia, where Healey had visited British troops deployed close to Russia. The pilots were forced to rely on backup inertial navigation systems, but the aircraft remained safe. The article notes this is not an isolated incident, citing a similar case in 2025 involving European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's aircraft experiencing GPS interference near Bulgaria. Estonia reported that 85% of flights have been affected by GPS interference, while Poland recorded 2,732 cases of GPS jamming and spoofing in January 2025. The analysis argues that Russian electronic warfare is becoming part of everyday pressure on NATO's eastern flank, creating uncertainty in the air and testing allied procedures without crossing the threshold of open war.
Defence24.comRussia jams British jet carrying Defence Secretary John Healey near Estonia
A Royal Air Force jet carrying UK Defence Secretary John Healey was reportedly hit by Russian electronic warfare while returning from Estonia, losing satellite signal for three hours and forcing reliance on backup navigation. The incident, reported by The Times and analyzed by defence24, follows a similar 2025 GPS jamming attack on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's aircraft. The article frames this as part of a broader pattern of Russian electronic warfare targeting NATO and civilian aviation near Russia, Belarus, and Kaliningrad. Estonia reported 85% of flights affected by GPS interference, while Poland recorded 2,732 jamming/spoofing cases in January 2025 alone. The author argues Russia is using non-kinetic means to create operational uncertainty, test NATO procedures, and pressure the alliance's eastern flank without crossing into open conflict. Healey had been visiting British troops deployed near Russian forces in southeast Estonia.
Defence24.comRussia jams British jet carrying Defence Secretary John Healey
A Royal Air Force jet carrying British Defence Secretary John Healey was reportedly hit by a Russian electronic warfare attack, losing its satellite signal during a return flight from southeast Estonia. The aircraft, which had been near the Russian border, relied on backup inertial navigation systems and remained safe. The incident, reported by The Times, is not isolated; similar GPS interference affected European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's aircraft in 2025. The article highlights that Russian jamming is increasingly targeting NATO and civilian flights near Russia, Belarus, and Kaliningrad. Estonia reported 85% of flights affected by GPS interference, while Poland recorded 2,732 cases in January 2025. The analysis argues that this electronic warfare is a form of everyday pressure on NATO's eastern flank, creating uncertainty without crossing into open conflict. Healey had been visiting British troops deployed near Russian forces.
Defence24.comRussia jams British jet carrying Defence Secretary John Healey
A Royal Air Force jet carrying British Defence Secretary John Healey was reportedly hit by a Russian electronic warfare attack, losing its satellite signal during a return flight from southeast Estonia. The aircraft relied on backup inertial navigation systems and remained safe, but the incident is seen as a serious political signal. The article notes this is not isolated, citing a similar 2025 case involving European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. It highlights widespread GPS jamming and spoofing affecting flights in Finland, the Baltic states, and Poland, with Estonia reporting 85% of flights affected and Poland recording 2,732 cases in January 2025. The analysis argues that Russian electronic warfare is a form of everyday pressure on NATO's eastern flank, creating uncertainty without crossing into open war, and calls for NATO to prioritize electronic warfare resilience as a first-order defence capability.
Defence24.comRussia jams GPS of RAF jet carrying UK Defence Secretary John Healey
A Royal Air Force jet carrying British Defence Secretary John Healey had its GPS signal jammed by Russia after flying past the Russian border last week, according to a report in The Times. Healey was returning from a visit to British troops stationed in southeast Estonia. The jamming disabled the jet's GPS for the remainder of the three-hour return flight, forcing pilots to rely on inertial navigation systems. The incident caused parts of the cockpit dashboard to malfunction. A defense source described the move as 'reckless,' noting it could have disrupted civilian aircraft. The event follows multiple dangerous interceptions of RAF reconnaissance planes by Russian fighter jets over the Black Sea, which Healey called 'dangerous and unacceptable.' The UK Defense Ministry stated these were the most serious interactions since 2022.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish WorldRAF jet carrying UK defence secretary has GPS jammed near Russian border
On 25 May 2026, Sky News reported that an RAF Dassault Falcon 900LX carrying UK Defence Secretary John Healey had its GPS and communications signals jammed while flying near the Russian border. The incident occurred on Thursday (21 May) as Healey returned from visiting British troops in Estonia. Passengers, including journalists, lost internet connectivity, and pilots had to use alternative navigation systems for the three-hour flight. A defence source described the interference as 'reckless Russian interference,' though it remains unclear if Healey was specifically targeted. The article notes that GPS jamming near Russian territory has become routine, citing a similar incident in March 2024 involving then-defence secretary Grant Shapps and a September 2025 incident involving EU chief Ursula von der Leyen. Russia has denied involvement in such interference in the past.
The Latest News from the UK and Around the World | Sky NewsGPS jammed on RAF jet carrying UK defence secretary close to Russian border
An RAF jet carrying UK Defence Secretary John Healey had its GPS signal jammed for the entire three-hour flight after flying near the Russian border. Healey was returning from a visit to British troops in Estonia when the electronic attack occurred. Russia is suspected of being behind the incident, which disabled internet connectivity for passengers and forced pilots to use alternative navigation systems. The aircraft, a Dassault Falcon 900LX, continued to operate safely. The incident follows a pattern of Russian electronic warfare and dangerous intercepts, including a recent near-collision between a Russian Su-35 and an RAF spy plane over the Black Sea. Healey condemned the action, stating it would not deter UK commitment to NATO. A similar GPS jamming incident occurred in March 2024 involving then-defence secretary Grant Shapps.
The GuardianRAF jet carrying UK defence secretary John Healey has GPS jammed near Russian border
An RAF jet carrying UK Defence Secretary John Healey had its GPS signal jammed while flying near the Russian border earlier this week. The incident occurred on Thursday as Healey was returning to the UK after visiting British soldiers in Estonia. Russia is believed to be responsible for the attack, which forced pilots to use alternative navigation systems during the three-hour flight. The jamming came a day after reports emerged that two Russian warplanes had dangerously intercepted an RAF spy plane over the Black Sea last month. It is unclear whether Healey was specifically targeted, though the flight path was visible on aircraft tracking websites. The Ministry of Defence has been contacted for comment. This is not the first such incident; in 2024, an RAF plane carrying then-Defence Secretary Grant Shapps also had its GPS jammed near Russian territory. Healey had previously praised RAF crew professionalism during what he called 'unacceptable' Russian flybys.
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