Satellite signal interruption in the Middle East
Since the beginning of June, satellite signals in the Middle East have frequently been abnormal. Israel reported that many flights taking off and landing at Ben Gurion International Airport had lost GPS signals. To ensure flight safety, pilots had to abandon GPS navigation and use the airport's backup instrument landing system. At the same time, Israel pointed out that the interruption area includes Syria, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Turkey, Cyprus and some Greek islands.
Israel accuses Russia
On June 30, 2019, the Israeli Air Force accused the Russian army of being responsible for the Russian army stationed at the Khmeimim base in Syria. Russia has deployed a large number of electronic warfare forces at the base, which can interfere with electronic equipment within 300 kilometers. In particular, Russia's most powerful Murmansk BN system, known as a strategic electronic jamming system, has a power of up to 400,000 watts and can interfere with radio communications of 3,000-5,000 kilometers. It is known as the world's most powerful electronic warfare system.
GPS jamming has a wide impact
Russia denied Israel's accusations, but the United States believes that Russia used jamming measures specifically targeting aircraft GPS in Syria. The pseudo-GPS signals emitted by these systems are 500 times stronger than the real signals, causing civilian GPS satellite navigators to go astray. According to reports, Russia used GPS jamming in Scandinavia, Ukraine and Syria, and GPS receivers in many countries did not work properly. The impact was not limited to civilian aircraft, but also affected fighter jets and warships.
Russian response and Western doubts
Russia explained that its use of GPS signal jammer devices was only aimed at terrorist drone systems in Syria to prevent them from using GPS signals to attack Russian air bases, and did not target Israeli civilian flights. However, Western media believe that Russia has increased the jamming power to cover the Syrian territory in response to attacks from the United States and Israel, including satellite-guided bombs, drones and cruise missiles from F22 and F35 fighter jets.
Electronic jamming sparks controversy
Although Jordan National Airport is closer to the Russian Khmeimim base than Israel's Ben Gurion Airport, no GPS signal jamming has been reported. The three-week jamming mainly occurred during the day, and everything was normal at night. The Israeli military expressed anger and warned that if the threat did not stop, it might consider attacking the Russian air force base in Syria.
Potential risk of military conflict
Western military observers believe that Russia's continued jamming of GPS signals may be intended to target Israel's F35 attack. Although there is no sharp essential contradiction between Russia and Israel, if the jamming continues, the possibility of military conflict is not completely ruled out, and the public is worried that Russia is playing with fire.