Putin's threat to civilian airlines: Top secret Russian electronic weapon 'based in Kaliningrad' is jamming GPS technology on flights and ships across eastern flank of NATO, Western intelligence fears
- Already some disruption of air and sea traffic in Finland, Baltic states and Poland
A top secret Russian electronic weapon allegedly based in Kaliningrad has been jamming GPS technology on flights and ships across the eastern flank of NATO, Western intelligence services fear.
There has been disruption to the GPS guidance of air and sea traffic in Finland, the Baltic states and Poland, according to Estonia's military chief.
'What we have seen is a malfunctioning of GPS for ships and air traffic,' General Martin Harem, commander of the Estonian Defence Forces, told the Telegraph.
'And we really do not know if they [Russia] want to achieve something or just practise and test their equipment.'
The suspected electronic weapon causing these disruptions is likely based in Russia's military site in Kaliningrad, sitting between Lithuania and Poland, according to Western intelligence findings.
The suspected electronic weapon causing these disruptions is likely based in Russia's military site in Kaliningrad (pictured), sitting between Lithuania and Poland, according to Western intelligence findings
The fixed jamming system is called Tobol and it is said to be one of less than ten weapons in use across Russia. It reportedly looks like a large satellite dish, but the images circulating on social media claiming to show the device could not be verified
The fixed jamming system is called Tobol and it is said to be one of less than ten weapons in use across Russia.
It reportedly looks like a large satellite dish, but the images circulating on social media claiming to show the device could not be verified.
An expert in electronic warfare said the satellite dish could be used to disrupt GPS technology in several directions, which could protect Kaliningrad from potential incoming missiles.
Dr Thomas Withington, who works at the Royal United Services Institute think-tank, told the Telegraph the device was likely used as a defensive weapon due to Putin's fears over GPS-led weapons available to other countries.
Causing a GPS disruption in these usually highly accurate missiles could result in them missing their target.
However, if the weapon is used against civilian rather than military targets, it can wreak havoc for commercial airliners.
Recently there have been reports of planes suddenly dropping off tracking sites - likely due to their GPS being disrupted.
Experts warned that if the same happens to ships, they could collide due to not being able to see each other on navigation systems.
While vessels have other means of navigation available, it would be a cause of concern if these systems are down, Dr Withington explained.
Any long-lasting GPS disruption could cause chaos in logistics as delivery drivers rely on them to reach their destinations.
Gen Harem said: 'Whatever they [Russia] do here, one aim is to degrade our stability, self-confidence, our trust to the West, unity and cohesion.'
He added that he doesn't think the GPS-targeting weapons are part of Russia's 'immediate preparations' for a potential NATO clash with Russia in the next decade or two.
This comes as a shelling attack has today killed at least 28 people at a bakery in the Russian-occupied city of Lysychansk, Moscow-installed officials have said.
Dr Thomas Withington, who works at the Royal United Services Institute think-tank, said the device was likely used as a defensive weapon due to Putin's (pictured) fears over GPS-led weapons available to other countries
At least one child is among the dead, local leader Leonid Pasechnik wrote in a statement on Telegram.
He said a further 10 people were rescued from under the rubble by emergency services. He blamed Ukraine for the shelling, but officials in Kyiv did not comment on the incident.
Both Moscow and Kyiv have increasingly relied on longer-range attacks this winter amid largely unchanged positions on the 930-mile front line in the nearly two-year-old war.
The military administration for Ukraine's Sumy region said on Sunday that Russian forces had shelled the region in 16 separate attacks the previous day, firing on the border communities of Yunakivka, Bilopillia, Krasnopillia, Velyka Pysarivka, and Esman.
