Russia’s alleged “top secret” electronic warfare (EW) weapon is being held responsible for multiple flight jamming incidents recently recorded across NATO’s eastern flank.
Thousands of British holiday flights are said to have fallen victim to dangerous electronic attacks by Moscow, mostly targeting GPS systems.
According to reports, the “Tobol” EW system based in the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad could be interfering with signals on civilian planes, causing them to malfunction.
Almost 4,000 flights have experienced radar jamming in the area in recent months, according to a report by The Sun.
Tobol works by interfering with an aircraft’s wireless communications systems and using fake signals to trick pilots into believing they are in a different location.
“[These attacks] put an unnecessary risk on civilian aircraft and could potentially endanger people’s lives,” a defense source told Daily Mail Online.
Testing the Equipment?
Tobol is reportedly a large satellite dish strategically positioned at a Russian military site between Lithuania and Poland.
It is said to function as an invisible shield to protect Russian military bases from NATO’s satellite-guided missiles.
The EW system is designed to interfere with satellite signals and cause a weapon to miss its target.
Estonian Defense Forces Commander Martin Harem acknowledged the existence of such attacks but said he was unsure if Moscow wants to achieve something or is just testing its EW equipment.
Last month, the UK said a Royal Air Force plane carrying Defense Minister Grant Shapps had its signal jammed while flying near Russia.
Though the link to Tobol was not immediately established, the incident happened near Kaliningrad where the EW system is reportedly located.