GPS jamming, a disruptive technology that interferes with GPS signals, is now affecting transatlantic flights. The first known case of this was recently recorded when a flight was forced to operate in a “degraded mode” due to GPS interference. The suspected source of this interference is Russia, which has been linked to previous cases of GPS jamming in the Baltic region.
The affected flight, which was traveling from Madrid to Toronto, was unable to ascend due to a flight at a higher altitude that experienced a GPS jam. This information was revealed in air traffic control data and reported by the Resilient Timing and Navigation Foundation (RNTF) and an open source intelligence analyst.
Although GPS interference does not pose an immediate threat to aircraft due to the presence of safety navigation systems, it does present a broader safety risk. This is the first known instance of GPS jamming on a transatlantic route, according to a dispatcher in the air traffic control data communications log.
The exact cause of GPS interference remains uncertain. However, it should be noted that in the Baltic region, thousands of flights and ships have experienced GPS jamming believed to be linked to Russia. In fact, the Norwegian Communications Authority reported in February that flights were experiencing GPS jams on an almost daily basis.
Russia's electronic warfare capabilities are well known, with one unit reportedly based in Kaliningrad. It is suspected that the affected transatlantic flight may have encountered GPS interference while traveling from the Baltic region or the Middle East, and its GPS receivers had not recovered by the time it reached the transatlantic leg of the journey.
The RNTF has warned that if similar incidents become more frequent, they could significantly affect transatlantic flights, leading to delays and cancellations. This development underscores the growing concern about GPS jamming and its potential implications for global aviation.
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