RAF jet carrying Defence Secretary John Healey has GPS signal jammed near Russian border

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Russia is believed to be behind a GPS jamming incident targeting an RAF jet carrying John Healey.

The Defence Secretary was visiting British soldiers in Estonia when the electronic attack unfolded.

Pilots were forced into using a difficult navigation system for the entire three-hour flight.

Smartphones and laptops were unable to connect to the internet.

A Russian Su-35, seen here alongside an RAF Rivet Joint aircraft over the Black Sea in April 2026 (Picture: MoD/Getty)

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Despite the incident, the Dassault Falcon 900LX could still fly safely, passengers were told.

It’s unclear if Mr Healey was deliberately targeted but the aircraft was visible on tracking websites, according to The Times.

A defence source said: ‘This is reckless Russian interference, but the RAF is well prepared to deal with this activity.’

Defence Secretary John Healey arriving in Tallinn, Estonia, after the jamming incident (Picture: MoD)

Just last week, the Ministry of Defence said two Russian jets had ‘repeatedly and dangerously’ intercepted an RAF spy plane above the Black Sea.

A Russian Su-35 triggered a British reconnaissance aircraft’s emergency systems and disabled the autopilot after flying too close to it.

An Su-27 also flew within six metres from an Rivet Joint’s nose.

The MoD described it as the most dangerous Russian action against a British Rivet Joint aircraft since 2022 when a plane fired a missile over the Black Sea.

Last October, the head of the UK Space Command Major General Paul Tedman, said Russia tries to jam UK’s military satellites on a weekly basis.

In March 2024, an RAF plane carrying Grant Shapps, the then defence secretary, also had its GPS signal jammed for 30 minutes when heading back to the UK from Poland.

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