Spanish Defense Minister’s plane targeted by GPS interference

A Spanish Air Force jet carrying Defense Minister Margarita Robles encountered GPS signal disruption on Wednesday while flying close to Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave en route to Lithuania, according to Spain’s Defense Ministry. Officials did not specify the source of the interference but stressed that the aircraft was not affected.

Alongside Robles, the plane was also transporting family members of Spanish pilots currently deployed in NATO’s Baltic air policing mission. The deployment, named the Vilkas mission, “wolf” in Lithuanian, was activated earlier this month in response to increased tensions after Poland reported downing drones that entered its airspace. Just last week, Spanish fighter jets intercepted eight Russian aircraft operating over the Baltic Sea, the ministry said.

"There has been an attempt to disrupt the GPS signal, but as our aircraft has an encrypted system, it was not affected," a Defense Ministry spokesperson explained. The official added that interference in this region is not unusual. "It must be common on this route and also with commercial flights. It is not because it is our aircraft."

Robles’ trip included a scheduled meeting with Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene at the Siauliai airbase, where Spanish forces are stationed.

The episode mirrors a similar incident that occurred late last month, when the plane of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen experienced jamming on its way to Bulgaria. Bulgarian authorities suggested Russian involvement, though Moscow has consistently denied interfering with satellite and communication systems.

Both Finland and Estonia have repeatedly accused Russia of GPS disruptions in northern European airspace. Finland’s armed forces believe the Kremlin employs jamming tactics to shield sensitive assets, including Baltic oil terminals and military sites, from possible Ukrainian drone strikes.

Despite such risks, aviation experts note that modern aircraft are equipped with multiple navigation systems beyond GPS, ensuring safe operations during signal disturbances. A Spanish mission commander aboard the flight confirmed that their plane could also rely on military satellites, adding that interference near Kaliningrad is routine for both civilian and military flights.