A Spanish Air and Space Force aircraft carrying Defense Minister Margarita Robles experienced GPS disruption while flying past Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave on its way to Lithuania, the Spanish news agency Europa Press reported.
The incident occurred on September 24, 2025, as the Airbus A330 MRTT transport aircraft carried the minister, journalists, and relatives of Spanish personnel stationed in Lithuania.
The flight was heading to Šiauliai Air Base, where Spain is currently leading NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission. Its Eurofighter Typhoons are currently based at Šiauliai Air Base, where Robles was scheduled to meet with Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė and Spanish service members.
GPS signals disrupted near Kaliningrad
The Spanish Defense Ministry confirmed that the aircraft was targeted by GPS jamming while flying close to Kaliningrad. However, the disruption did not affect the flight because the aircraft had locked onto a secure military satellite navigation system.
The aircraft commander later downplayed the incident, noting that GPS interference in the region is not unusual and has previously affected both civilian and military flights operating in the vicinity of Kaliningrad.
Wider pattern of GPS interference
The Spanish incident follows similar cases involving senior European officials. In August 2025, a flight carrying European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reportedly encountered GPS jamming during its approach to Plovdiv Airport, Bulgaria. In March 2024, a RAF Falcon 900LX carrying UK Defense Minister Grant Shapps also experienced jamming near Kaliningrad.
NATO officials have warned that Russia’s ability to disrupt navigation systems could form part of broader hybrid warfare tactics, complicating both civilian air travel and military operations.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has identified four key hotspots for interference: the Baltic Sea region, eastern Finland, the Black Sea, and the Eastern Mediterranean. The impact has already been felt by airlines. In April and May 2024, Finnair suspended flights to Tartu, Estonia after repeated jamming incidents prevented safe approaches.
