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A Royal Air Force jet carrying UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps lost its GPS signal while flying near the Russian border last week. The incident necessitated the crew relying on alternative navigation systems for approximately three hours during the flight.

GPS Signal Disruption

The event occurred as Minister Shapps was returning to the UK after visiting British troops in Estonia. Reports suggest the aircraft's GPS signal may have been jammed in proximity to the Russian border. While British media has speculated about potential Russian involvement, Russian authorities have not yet issued an official statement regarding these claims.

Switch to Alternative Navigation

With the GPS system unavailable for the duration of the flight, the pilots expertly transitioned to other navigation methods. It remains unclear whether the Defence Secretary's flight was specifically targeted by this disruption. The aircraft's flight path was visible on flight tracking websites.

No Compromise to Safety

The aircraft, a Dassault Falcon 900LX, was carrying photographers and journalists in addition to the Defence Secretary. Passengers were assured that there was no threat to the safety of the aircraft. An unnamed source within the UK Ministry of Defence described the incident as "unprovoked interference from Russia," adding that the British Air Force is well-prepared to counter such actions.

This incident highlights ongoing concerns regarding navigation system integrity in sensitive airspace.