GNSS interference in the Baltic Sea region

Global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), including GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, and BeiDou, are experiencing a significant rise in jamming and spoofing threats. In the second quarter of 2025, intentional interference affected more than 10,000 vessels, marking an eightfold increase from the previous quarter.

In the Baltic Sea region, the situation has intensified. Data from the Institute of Communications (PIB) in Gdańsk indicates that during the summer of 2026, significant disruptions occurred on approximately 70 percent of days, with specific August data showing total signal disruption on 63 percent of days. Experts suggest these disturbances, which affect maritime navigation, aviation, and consumer electronics, may be linked to radio system activity and electronic warfare.

To mitigate these risks, the European Space Agency is researching multi-layered approaches to bolster system resilience. In Poland, the PIB is developing a Real-time GNSS Monitoring System (RTGMS), while experts are also working on R-Mode, a terrestrial navigation system designed to serve as a “spare tire” by utilizing coastal radio infrastructure when satellite signals are unreliable.