Putin using secret tech to cause 'GPS systems to malfunction'

Putin using secret tech to cause 'GPS systems to malfunction'

WATCH: GBN America talks about Putin and Nato

GB News
George Bunn

By George Bunn


Published: 04/02/2024

- 18:24

Updated: 04/02/2024

- 18:25

Military experts are warning about the risk of crashes

A top military expert has warned that Russia is using a top-secret electronic warfare system to cause chaos in Europe.

Estonian military chief Martin Harem said there has been a surge in disruption to the GPS guiding systems across the Baltic nations.


There have been claims the GPS technology is being used to impact flights and ships across the eastern flank of Nato, causing severe disruption.

Estonia is the first Nato country to call out the Kremlin over the disruption.

\u200bEstonian military chief Martin Harem has warned about Russia's actions

Estonian military chief Martin Harem has warned about Russia's actions

Getty

Speaking to The Telegraph, Harem said: "What we have seen is a malfunctioning of GPS for ships and air traffic.

"And we really do not know if they [Russia] want to achieve something or just practice and test their equipment."

"But definitely, nobody should behave like this, especially when you’re at war with a neighbouring country."

It has been rumoured that the electronic warfare system is based in Kaliningrad, the Russian enclave located between Lithuania and Poland that was annexed from Germany in 1945.

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\u200bRussia's President Vladimir Putin toured the Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University in Kaliningrad in January

Russia's President Vladimir Putin toured the Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University in Kaliningrad in January

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Kaliningrad has been identified as a key location for any potential conflict between Russia and Nato.

According to Western intelligence reports, the fixed jamming system is called Tobol, which looks like a huge dish with an antenna. Electronic warfare expert Dr Thomas Withington said the dish can be directed to disrupt GPS signals in multiple directions, which could be key to protect Kaliningrad as well as Russia from potential incoming missiles.

He argued that the system is rather defensive in nature and is being used as a "invisible" shield against Nato's arsenal of satellite-guided missile systems.

He told The Telegraph: "This may surprise some people but I think, ostensibly, it’s defensive. The Russian military is highly concerned by global navigation satellite system weapons."


Dr Withington blasted the Russians' actions as "deeply irresponsible."

He added: "It’s affecting the safety of navigation, degrading the safety of navigation, The good news is that aircraft and ships have other means of navigation.

"It obviously is a cause of concern if those systems are not available... so they’re a very valid argument that what the Russians are doing is deeply irresponsible from a navigation point of view."

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