Reports indicate a significant surge in incidents of interference affecting aircraft navigation systems across European airspace. Data from the German Air Navigation Services (DFS) reveal 447 reports filed by flight crews between January and August, detailing disruptions or manipulations of satellite navigation, specifically GPS. This figure represents a dramatic increase compared to the 25 similar reports registered two years prior, suggesting a potential increase exceeding 2,500% if annualized for the year 2025.
The German Federal Ministry of Transport reports a particularly noticeable rise in GPS signal disruptions over the Baltic Sea region and airspace above the Baltic states. These disturbances are attributed to ground-based transmitters either overwhelming satellite signals (jamming) or transmitting deceptive signals – a technique known as spoofing. Spoofing is considered especially concerning as it can mislead flight crews regarding their actual position.
The German Aviation Association (BDL) has labelled these interference incidents as a “threat to the safe operation of civilian aircraft”. In response to the escalating situation, the BDL is calling for enhanced protections for civil aviation. Citing recent incidents in Denmark as examples of the potential for significant damage to critical infrastructure with relatively limited resources, BDL CEO Joachim Lang advocates for a cross-departmental situation center designed to facilitate ongoing communication and information sharing between security agencies, intelligence services and industry stakeholders.
