Latvia Blames Russia for Baltic GPS Jamming

Latvia’s Electronic Communications Office has identified three Russian sites responsible for jamming global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), disrupting flight navigation and airport operations across the Baltic region.

Following months of investigation with Latvia’s State Border Guard, officials traced the interference using specialized radio frequency measurements. The agency warned that GNSS disruptions in eastern Europe and the Baltic Sea region have escalated from a national concern to a regional and international security issue.

While the jamming is aimed primarily at military operations, it has become a persistent hazard for commercial flights, affecting navigation systems, the Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS), and ADS-B Out. Pilots have been forced to rely on backup navigation methods, and GNSS-dependent airports have faced operational challenges. Last year, Finnair temporarily suspended flights to Tartu, Estonia, due to GPS interference. Estonian officials have previously described Russia’s jamming as a deliberate “hybrid attack.”

Measurements revealed three permanent “hot spots”: one in Kaliningrad Oblast, another in Leningrad Oblast, and a third in Pskov Oblast. These areas host major Russian military bases, including electronic warfare units. One identified site, in Pionersky, Kaliningrad, is home to a Tobol electronic warfare system.

Latvia has shared its findings with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Russia, a signatory to all three, has cited national defense needs in response to inquiries, but neighboring states are now raising the issue at the international level.


Related News: https://airguide.info/?s=gps+jamming, https://airguide.info/category/air-travel-business/travel-health-security/

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, aviationweek.com