RAF jet carrying Defence Secretary jammed by 'electronic attack' near Russian border

Defence Secretary John Healey's government aircraft is said to have been struck by a suspected Russian electronic attack while returning from a visit to British forces stationed in the region.

The incident occurred on Thursday as Mr Healey departed southeast Estonia, where he had been meeting soldiers deployed close to hostile territory.

Satellite navigation on the RAF jet was completely knocked out, leaving the aircraft without GPS capability for the entirety of the three-hour journey back to Britain, according to the Times.

Moscow is suspected of orchestrating the jamming operation, which targeted the aircraft shortly after it took off from a region that experiences constant electronic interference from Russian military assets positioned just across the border.

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The jamming caused significant disruption aboard the Dassault Falcon 900LX - an aircraft also utilised by the King for official travel.

Cockpit instruments partially malfunctioned, while passengers found their laptops and mobile phones unable to access the internet throughout the flight.

RAF pilots were forced to rely on backup navigation systems to determine the aircraft's position, a method that calculates location through movement rather than satellite signals.

Although those on board were reassured the plane could continue operating safely, restoring satellite connectivity proved impossible without completely shutting down and restarting the jet's systems - whicg could not be done mid-flight.

One of the pilots described the situation as unusual, noting he had not encountered such circumstances "in a long time".

A defence source characterised the interference as "reckless" Russian behaviour that risked affecting civilian aircraft, while emphasising the RAF was "well prepared to deal with this".

Mr Healey had been receiving briefings at a covert location with troops from 4th Light Brigade, nicknamed the Black Rats.

They are among thousands of soldiers participating in Exercise Spring Storm, positioned to deter any potential incursion by Russian units stationed merely 25 miles away.

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Among those Russian forces are members of the 76th Guards Air Assault Division, the elite unit implicated in the Bucha massacre during the Ukraine conflict.

British personnel in the region face daily surveillance from suspected hostile operatives in vehicles and Orlan drones overhead.

The Black Rats have developed drone warfare capabilities that closely mirror Ukrainian frontline forces, becoming the first British unit authorised to deploy new fixed-wing kamikaze drones resistant to electronic jamming and capable of operating without GPS.

However, Mr Healey was informed British forces lack sufficient equipment to adequately defend the border, possessing fewer than a fifth of the first-person-view drones needed - a stockpile that would be exhausted within approximately a week of combat against Russia.

"We certainly need to get them more, and we're working on that," Mr Healey told The Times, explaining rapid technological advances make stockpiling difficult, as models become obsolete within days.

He emphasised the need for continuously operating factories capable of developing and refining equipment, mirroring Ukraine's approach to staying ahead of Russia.

Defence chiefs have warned President Putin could be prepared to launch an invasion of Europe before the decade ends should a peace agreement be reached with Ukraine, with Estonia considered among the most vulnerable targets.

Mr Healey cautioned the Kremlin was attempting to exploit worldwide instability - including Middle East conflict, Chinese assertiveness towards Taiwan, and reduced American engagement in Europe - to create divisions within Nato.

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