Europe Faces Escalating Electronic Warfare Threats Amid Rising GPS Jamming Incidents

Europe is grappling with a surge in electronic warfare incidents, with GPS signal disruptions becoming increasingly common since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The latest high-profile case involved European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, whose aircraft was forced to circle for an hour NEAR Plovdiv, Bulgaria, after GPS signals were jammed. Bulgarian authorities pointed to Moscow as the likely source.

What began as a regional nuisance near Russian and Belarusian airspace has now spread deeper into Europe, disrupting civilian flights and critical infrastructure. Pilots, ship captains, and travelers across the continent report sudden failures in navigation systems—glitches experts attribute to deliberate Russian strategy rather than technical malfunctions.

Security officials warn that mobile jamming units deployed along Russia's western frontier pose more than mere inconvenience. These tactics challenge NATO's operational freedom and safety in the region, while demonstrating how electronic warfare can threaten everything from commercial trade to the security of Europe's top leaders.