An electronic attack on an RAF jet carrying Defence Secretary John Healey occurred as it flew close to the Russian border, forcing pilots to switch to a different navigation system. The incident happened on Thursday as Mr Healey was returning to the UK from Estonia, where he had been visiting British troops. Vladimir Putin's Russia is believed to be behind the interference.
The Dassault Falcon 900LX aircraft experienced a complete loss of GPS signal for the entire three-hour flight. Smartphones and laptops on board were unable to connect to the internet. Passengers, including photographers and a reporter, were informed that the aircraft could still operate safely. It remains unclear whether Mr Healey was deliberately targeted, but the flight path was visible on aircraft tracking websites, as first reported by The Times.
This incident comes just days after the Ministry of Defence revealed that two Russian jets had been “repeatedly and dangerously” intercepted an RAF spy plane over the Black Sea. A Russian Su-35 jet flew so close to the British reconnaissance aircraft that it triggered emergency systems, disabling the autopilot. Additionally, a Russian Su-27 flew within six metres of the unarmed Rivet Joint's nose and conducted six passes in front of the aircraft.
The MoD described this as the most dangerous Russian action against a British Rivet Joint aircraft since a plane fired a missile over the Black Sea in 2022. Mr Healey stated: "This incident is another example of dangerous and unacceptable behaviour by Russian pilots, towards an unarmed aircraft operating in international airspace. These actions create a serious risk of accidents and potential escalation. I would like to pay tribute to the outstanding professionalism and bravery of the RAF crew who continued with their mission despite these dangerous actions. Let me be very clear: This incident will not deter the UK’s commitment to defend NATO, our allies and our interests from Russian aggression."
The RAF Rivet Joint is a reconnaissance aircraft equipped with advanced sensors for electronic surveillance, enhancing situational awareness and helping secure NATO territory. In March 2024, an RAF plane carrying then-Defence Secretary Grant Shapps had its GPS signal jammed for about 30 minutes while flying near Russian territory, returning from Poland.
In April, Scottish First Minister John Swinney expressed concerns that the UK may not have the capability to address the threat posed by Russian military activity off the coast of Scotland. He highlighted revelations of a Russian attack submarine and two spy submarines loitering over critical undersea cables in the North Atlantic. Mr Healey had previously disclosed that the UK and its allies tracked three Russian vessels off the UK's northern coast, deploying a British warship and aircraft to deter "malign" activity by Putin's regime.
Mr Healey said Putin had sought to exploit global distractions caused by the Iran war and poses "the primary threat to UK security." An MoD spokesperson commented: "The UK is stepping up to protect the Arctic and High North – doubling the number of Marines we have in Norway, deploying HMS Prince of Wales to the high north and scaling up joint exercises with Nato allies. As the Defence Secretary said yesterday we’re providing an extra £100 million for our vital P8 submarine hunting aircraft and we’ve launched the Atlantic Bastion programme, to combine the latest autonomous technologies with the very best warships and aircraft to create a British-built hybrid naval force. The exceptional military personnel serving in Scotland and the 11,800 skilled people across the Scottish defence industry are a credit to this country. Their dedication keeps us secure at home and strong abroad."
