GPS jamming and spoofing is no longer just a problem in war zones.
On August 12, Latvia’s Electronic Communications Office confirmed that Russia is disrupting satellite navigation systems from three permanent sites in Kaliningrad, Leningrad, and Pskov Oblasts, creating widespread risks for civil aviation and critical infrastructure across the Baltic Sea region.
The agency described the issue as a “growing problem” that has outgrown national borders, forcing pilots to rely on fallback navigation methods and even grounding flights. Estonian ministers have previously called the interference a “deliberate hybrid attack” reaching into everyday life.
According to space industry experts from Astrolight, a space-tech startup from Lithuania that develops laser communication solutions for space and Earth, we need to put our focus on jamming-resistant technology.
“The Baltics are on the frontline of electronic warfare, and this could spread to other regions soon,” said Laurynas Mačiulis, CEO of Astrolight. “Satellites, navigation, and communications are experiencing regular attacks. We need jamming-resistant technology now – and it must be addressed across NATO, not just locally.”
Traditionally, GPS jamming and spoofing was considered a localized threat, disrupting signals for aircraft or ground forces. But in July 2025, reports from Ukraine disclosed that Russian systems are now powerful enough to interfere with GPS signals over 1,200 miles above ground, causing satellites in low-Earth orbit to lose navigation accuracy. Experts say this is the first widely reported case of ground-based systems interfering with satellites directly.
UN agencies warn that ground-based jamming now threatens military operations, disrupts airline navigation, and interferes with maritime shipping. Civilian infrastructure, from power grids to banking systems that rely on GPS timing, is also at risk, exposing how vulnerable conventional radio-frequency (RF) links are to high-power interference.
The European Space Agency is dealing with the issue by investing €1 billion in a new military-grade satellite network. European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius is pushing for stronger EU-wide coordination to counter Russian hybrid attacks, including electronic warfare that now reaches into space.
Astrolight, based in Vilnius, has developed a next-generation laser communication system designed to operate in contested environments, providing unjammable, high-speed links between satellites and the ground. According to Mačiulis, the technology can be used both on the ground, between space and earth, and in space alone. Astrolight already showcased secure ship-to-ship communication with their POLARIS during a test with the Lithuanian Navy this summer. In September, they are heading to waters together with NATO Allies for a REPMUS mission.
