Russian Forces Jam Defence Secretary's Plane Signals, Disrupting Communications and GPS for 30 Minutes
-
Russian forces jammed signals on Defence Secretary Grant Shapps' plane, knocking out GPS and communications for 30 minutes. Happened near Kaliningrad while returning from visiting British troops in Poland.
-
Jamming seen as "wildly irresponsible" by defence source, putting civilian aircraft at risk. Russia has history of using electronic warfare to spark chaos.
-
Comes after Shapps warned in Poland that UK should spend billions more on defence to save itself from World War 3. Supports raising spending to 3% of GDP from current 2.27%.
-
Attack affected aircraft's satellite internet communications. Officials don't think Shapps' plane was singled out - Russia routinely interferes with signals which can impact planes and GPS.
-
Follows 2021 claims Russians interfering with planes' GPS at RAF base in Cyprus. Pilots of transport planes reported jamming when landing there.