GPS is vulnerable to jamming—here’s how we might fix it

In September 2025, a Widerøe Airlines flight faced a critical situation while attempting to land in Vardø, Norway, situated just 40 miles from the Russian coastline. Low visibility and challenging weather conditions made pilots rely heavily on GPS technology to ensure a safe landing. However, on this particular day, the GPS systems were compromised, inundated with jamming signals that obstructed access to vital navigation data. This incident coincided with one of Russia's military exercises, dubbed Zapad-2025, which simulated a conflict scenario near the fjord opposite Vardø. European officials reported a surge in GPS interference leading up to the exercise, with suspicions pointing towards Russian forces employing GPS-jamming technology—a tactic not exclusive to training exercises. While Russia has refuted some claims of interference in the past, the impact was evident. Forced to abandon its landing attempt due to the absence of reliable GPS guidance, the Widerøe flight redirected to Båtsfjord, a nearby fishing village. The region, known as Finnmark, has experienced persistent GPS disruptions, exacerbated by increased interference linked to Russian activities since the onset of the Ukraine invasion. This incident underscores the alarming vulnerabilities inherent in GPS technology. Similar disruptions are reported globally, with militaries—including that of the United States—often implicated in the use of devices that can confuse or disrupt GPS signals. Furthermore, the availability of inexpensive equipment to jam GPS at a non-military scale means that such interferences can affect everyday life, from truck drivers attempting to falsify delivery records to gamers manipulating augmented-reality experiences.