Russia’s GPS Jamming Raises Alarms from Sweden to Poland

Across Scandinavia and Central Europe, authorities and aviation officials are sounding the alarm: Russia is suspected of deploying electronic warfare that interferes with GPS and satellite navigation. The disruptions are being felt in Sweden, Finland, Poland, and Baltic states — raising serious concerns about safety, sovereignty, and the nature of hybrid warfare.

Reports of GPS jamming and spoofing (sending false positioning signals) have surged over the Baltic Sea and adjacent airspace. These disruptions affect both civil and military navigation systems. 

The interference stretches from Poland through the Baltic states to Finland and Sweden, even reaching lower altitudes and maritime zones. 

Airlines have had to cancel or reroute flights. For instance, two Finnair planes turned back while approaching Tartu, Estonia, because GPS-based landing systems failed. 

Some airports (especially smaller ones) rely entirely on satellite navigation. When GPS signals go dark, these airports are temporarily unusable for many aircraft. 

Even though commercial aircraft often have backup navigation systems, losing GPS mid-flight complicates operations. Pilots may need to switch navigation methods, which is stressful and riskier especially in bad weather or in less equipped airports.