The Alarming Rise of GPS Jamming in Europe
A recent incident involving a Ryanair flight from London Luton to Vilnius, Lithuania, has highlighted ongoing concerns about GPS signal interference near NATO's eastern borders. On January 17, 2025, the flight was forced to abort its landing at Vilnius Airport due to GPS signal interference and was subsequently diverted to Warsaw, Poland. 
This event is part of a broader pattern of GPS disruptions in the region. Lithuania reported over 800 cases of GPS interference in the last three months of 2024, a significant increase from 124 incidents during the same period in the previous year. 
 Similarly, Finland has experienced disruptions, leading to the reinstatement of radio navigation equipment at three eastern airports to ensure safe landings amid suspected Russian interference.
Experts suggest that Russia's military system, known as 'Tobol,' may be responsible for these interferences. Allegedly positioned in Kaliningrad, Tobol is designed to disrupt satellite signals, potentially affecting aircraft and maritime navigation. While Russia denies these allegations, the pattern of disruptions near its borders raises significant concerns. 
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has reported "several thousand" GPS interference incidents annually in the region, indicating a persistent and growing issue. These disruptions not only pose challenges for aviation safety but also have broader implications for regional security and navigation systems.