GPS jamming has reached space, and from orbit a single source can blank an entire continent at once, far beyond any jammer on the ground.
Scientists traced short GPS outages across Europe, from Iceland to Italy, to three Russian satellites in at least 3 of 75 cases logged since 2019, NYT. 1/
Scientists traced short GPS outages across Europe, from Iceland to Italy, to three Russian satellites in at least 3 of 75 cases logged since 2019, NYT. 1/
The disruptions are short, lasting under 10 seconds, but they spread across a continent.
They hit the GPS networks of the U.S., China and the EU. Russia's own system stays untouched. 2/
They hit the GPS networks of the U.S., China and the EU. Russia's own system stays untouched. 2/
Richard Bowden of Spanish tech firm GMV said the signal is clearly structured and well designed.
It sits next to a widely used GPS frequency but runs strong enough to bleed over and drown it out. 3/
It sits next to a widely used GPS frequency but runs strong enough to bleed over and drown it out. 3/
The three satellites belong to EKS, Russia's only known early-warning constellation, built to spot missile launches and nuclear blasts.
The first jamming case hit in October 2019, a month after the first active EKS satellite launched. The latest came in mid-February. 4/
The first jamming case hit in October 2019, a month after the first active EKS satellite launched. The latest came in mid-February. 4/
U.S. Air Force officials were briefed and confirmed Russia was behind it.
The EU ran its own investigation, and the results are classified. The Russian Embassy in D.C.: "we don't have a comment on that." 5/
The EU ran its own investigation, and the results are classified. The Russian Embassy in D.C.: "we don't have a comment on that." 5/
Experts doubt it's deliberate. Pavel Podvig, who tracks Russia's nuclear forces: "nobody would mess with early-warning satellites by adding some secondary mission."
Moscow may not even know its signals interfere. 6/
Moscow may not even know its signals interfere. 6/
The danger is reach. Jammers on the ground, a ship or a plane need line of sight. A satellite doesn't.
"Someone could, if they wanted to, selectively jam an entire continent every day," said Ramsey Faragher of the Royal Institute of Navigation. 7/
"Someone could, if they wanted to, selectively jam an entire continent every day," said Ramsey Faragher of the Royal Institute of Navigation. 7/
GPS does far more than power Uber and maps. It syncs electrical grids, cell towers and aircraft alerts.
"GPS is just like electricity," said Gen. William Shelton. "You put a plug in the wall and expect power." Todd Humphreys calls the jamming "a wake up call." 8X
"GPS is just like electricity," said Gen. William Shelton. "You put a plug in the wall and expect power." Todd Humphreys calls the jamming "a wake up call." 8X
Source: nytimes.com/2026/06/05/wor…
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