Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

World

Russia blocked GPS data during NATO exercises: Norway

-

Oslo on Tuesday pointed a finger squarely at Russia, accusing it of jamming GPS signals in Norway's Far North when it hosted NATO's massive exercises in October and early November.

"We know that jamming was observed between October 19 and November 7, originating from Russian ground forces in (the) Kola" peninsula, a region of northwestern Russia close to Norway, the Norwegian defence ministry said.

"We are following the situation closely, together with the authorities concerned," the ministry added in an email to AFP, confirming reports by Norwegian news agency NTB.

On Sunday, Finnish Prime Minister Juha Sipila had said the "almost certainly deliberate" disruption of GPS signals across Lapland had put civil aviation in the region at risk.

He had suggested Moscow could be responsible, saying it was "possible" it was involved.

Russia on Monday denied the allegation, calling it "baseless".

The jamming coincided with Trident Juncture 18, NATO's biggest military exercises since the end of the Cold War, held several hundred kilometres (miles) from Norway's border with Russia from October 25 to November 7.

Prior to the manoeuvres, Russia had vowed to "retaliate", calling the exercises "anti-Russian".

The satellite disruption led to Finnish and Norwegian civil airspace operators issuing official warnings to pilots that navigation signals in northeast Lapland were unstable.

In September 2017, Norwegian authorities reported jammed GPS signals affecting civil flights in the north of the country during Russia's large Zapad military exercise.

"The foreign ministry has on several occasions in the past raised the question with Russian authorities," the defence ministry said.

Oslo on Tuesday pointed a finger squarely at Russia, accusing it of jamming GPS signals in Norway’s Far North when it hosted NATO’s massive exercises in October and early November.

“We know that jamming was observed between October 19 and November 7, originating from Russian ground forces in (the) Kola” peninsula, a region of northwestern Russia close to Norway, the Norwegian defence ministry said.

“We are following the situation closely, together with the authorities concerned,” the ministry added in an email to AFP, confirming reports by Norwegian news agency NTB.

On Sunday, Finnish Prime Minister Juha Sipila had said the “almost certainly deliberate” disruption of GPS signals across Lapland had put civil aviation in the region at risk.

He had suggested Moscow could be responsible, saying it was “possible” it was involved.

Russia on Monday denied the allegation, calling it “baseless”.

The jamming coincided with Trident Juncture 18, NATO’s biggest military exercises since the end of the Cold War, held several hundred kilometres (miles) from Norway’s border with Russia from October 25 to November 7.

Prior to the manoeuvres, Russia had vowed to “retaliate”, calling the exercises “anti-Russian”.

The satellite disruption led to Finnish and Norwegian civil airspace operators issuing official warnings to pilots that navigation signals in northeast Lapland were unstable.

In September 2017, Norwegian authorities reported jammed GPS signals affecting civil flights in the north of the country during Russia’s large Zapad military exercise.

“The foreign ministry has on several occasions in the past raised the question with Russian authorities,” the defence ministry said.

AFP
Written By

With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives.

You may also like:

Social Media

Wanna buy some ignorance? You’re in luck.

Life

Platforms like Instagram and Pinterest often suggest travel destinations based on your likes and viewing habits.

Business

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said the carrier was reviewing recent incidents and would redouble safety initiatives as needed - Copyright AFP Logan CyrusUnited...

World

US President Joe Biden speaks during a reception honoring Women's History Month at the White House - Copyright AFP Brendan SMIALOWSKIDanny KEMPUS President Joe...