Russian GPS disruptions impacted the Commissioner's flight journey
In a recent incident, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's flight to Bulgaria was disrupted by GPS satellite navigation issues. The disturbances, which have been commonplace since 2022, particularly affecting Ukraine and the Baltic Sea, also impacted the approach to Plovdiv, a city in the southern half of Bulgaria.
The disruption forced the pilots to wait an hour before deciding to land, using analog map material instead of GPS due to the issues. This incident has raised concerns among security experts, who suspect that the GPS signal jamming may come from Russia. However, the Kremlin has denied any involvement in the problems in Bulgaria.
The Bulgarian aviation authority confirmed that the disturbances affected the entire airport area. This incident is significant given Bulgaria's central role in the military equipment of Ukraine, supplying both weapons systems from the Soviet era and newly produced products.
Ursula von der Leyen met with Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov during her visit, and the investigation of the suspected GPS satellite disturbances was handled by Bulgarian aviation authorities and related security circles. The European Commission and Bulgarian officials also exchanged information during the investigation.
However, the Bulgarian Prime Minister later stated that there was no evidence of ongoing interference or disturbance in the GPS signal during von der Leyen's flight. It's important to note that these disruptions affect not only aircraft but also ships and land vehicles.
In addition to jamming, security experts have also observed spoofing, where false position data is transmitted, in these disturbances. Increased caution is required due to these navigation issues, which can potentially affect safety, especially in heavily trafficked airspaces.
This incident underscores the importance of maintaining secure GPS satellite navigation systems, particularly in regions of geopolitical tension. The investigation into the GPS disruptions continues, with ongoing efforts to ensure the safety and security of navigation systems in Europe and beyond.
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