GPS Interference: Criminal and State Actors Hijack Navigation Systems

SourceArticle

Publication Date: 15.11.2025

Overview

  • Author: Michael Spehr (FAZ)
  • Source: FAZ.net
  • Publication Date: 15.11.2025
  • Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes

Article Summary

What is it about?

GPS interference is increasing worldwide and developing into a critical security problem. The article highlights an incident involving EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and shows the growing threat from intentional manipulation of satellite signals in the context of hybrid warfare.

Key Facts:

  • August 31: Flight with von der Leyen was allegedly affected by Russian GPS interference
  • Aircraft had to remain in the air for 1 hour longer
  • Pilots landed manually using conventional maps in Bulgaria
  • GPS interference has increased since February 2022 (start of Ukraine war)
  • Both aviation and shipping are affected
  • Interference is classified as an element of hybrid warfare
  • Criminal and state actors use GPS manipulation

Affected Groups:

  • Directly: Airlines, shipping companies, pilots, ship captains
  • Indirectly: Passengers, trading companies, military units, critical infrastructure

Opportunities & Risks:

Risks:

  • Endangerment of flight safety
  • Disruption of supply chains
  • Loss of navigation capability in critical situations
  • Escalation of international conflicts

Opportunities:

  • Development of alternative navigation systems
  • Improvement of critical infrastructure resilience
  • Strengthening international cooperation

Recommendations:

  • Maintain backup navigation systems
  • Train personnel in manual navigation
  • Diversify navigation technologies
  • Develop international standards for GPS security

Future Outlook

Short-term (1 year):

  • Increase in targeted GPS attacks in conflict regions
  • Enhanced investments in anti-jamming technologies
  • Intensification of international tensions

Medium-term (5 years):

  • Establishment of alternative navigation systems (Galileo, BeiDou)
  • Development of AI-supported interference detection
  • Possible international agreements on GPS security

Long-term (10-20 years):

  • Quantum-based navigation systems as alternatives
  • Complete redundancy of critical navigation systems
  • New form of digital sovereignty over navigation data

Fact Check

  • Von der Leyen incident on 31.08. confirmed by multiple sources
  • GPS interference since 2022 documented [⚠️ Exact figures to be verified]
  • Russian responsibility for interference [⚠️ Not yet conclusively proven]

Additional Sources

  1. European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) - Official warnings about GPS interference
  2. EUROCONTROL - Reports on navigation disruptions in European airspace
  3. Maritime Executive - Documentation of GPS spoofing in shipping

Source List

  • Original Source: "Criminals hijack the course", FAZ, 15.11.2025, Link
  • Additional Sources:
    1. Tagesschau, Report on von der Leyen incident, 01.09.2025
    2. Financial Times, Details on manual landing
    3. EASA Safety Information Bulletins
  • Facts verified: on 15.11.2025

Brief Summary

GPS interference is evolving from technical failures to an instrument of hybrid warfare. The documented incident with EU Commission President von der Leyen demonstrates the acute vulnerability of critical navigation systems. The dependence on GPS technology makes civil and military infrastructure vulnerable, which is why alternative navigation solutions and international security standards are urgently needed.

Three Key Questions

  1. Freedom: How can we secure freedom of movement in global traffic when navigation systems become weapons?

  2. Responsibility: Who bears responsibility for protecting critical navigation systems - states, companies, or international organizations?

  3. Transparency: Why is there a lack of public transparency about the actual extent of GPS interference and its perpetrators?

Meta

  • Version: 1.0
  • Author: press@clarus.news
  • License: CC-BY 4.0
  • Last Updated: 15.11.2025
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