Russian Interference Suspected After RAF Jet Carrying Defence Secretary Experiences GPS Jamming

An RAF jet transporting the UK Defence Secretary, John Healey, experienced signal jamming while operating near Russian airspace this week. The incident occurred on Thursday as Mr Healey returned from a visit with British troops in Estonia.

Russian forces are suspected of disabling the aircraft's GPS, forcing the flight crew to utilise alternative navigation methods for a three-hour duration. It remains unclear whether the aircraft, whose flight path was publicly accessible via tracking websites, was specifically targeted.

This event follows closely on the heels of a separate incident last month, where two Russian warplanes repeatedly intercepted an RAF surveillance aircraft over the Black Sea. During that encounter, a Russian Su-35 fighter approached dangerously close, triggering emergency systems on the RAF Rivet Joint surveillance plane and disabling its autopilot. A Su-27 jet also conducted multiple passes within six metres of the RAF aircraft's nose.

Mr Healey had previously commended the RAF crew's professionalism during these