In fresh days beaches and resorts on the Baltic Sea have witnessed a disturbing series of incidents involving the failure of control of drones. Only within a week in the area Tricity and the Hel Peninsula There have been respective twelve cases where unmanned aircraft have lost their GPS signal, leaving in an unknown direction or falling into water. The value of equipment lost as a consequence of these events reaches tens of thousands of zlotys.
– I took off, took a fewer shots, and the drone abruptly lost its GPS signal. He flew distant without responding to my orders. He flew into a cliff and crashed into a tree – Michał, a photographer from Gdynia, reports in a conversation with Radio Eska Tricity. As he adds, 90% of his drone friends have had akin experiences recently.
GPS disturbances: jamming and spoofing
Portal experts ♪ Dangerous. ♪ confirm that GPS interference is likely to be jamming or spoofing.
- Jamming is simply a form of signal jamming – devices specified as drones, smartphones or scooters, They're losing their orientation., incapable to find its location.
- In case of spoofing situation is even more complex – device Gets a fake GPS signal, stronger than that coming from satellites, and on its basis wrongly determines his location, e.g. ‘thinks’ that it is in the Princess or in the mediate of the Baltic Sea.
As experts explain:
– In most cases, even after losing GPS, the pilot inactive has control of the drone. The problem arises erstwhile the drone picks up a fabricated GPS signal and abruptly "jumps" on the map by many kilometres. Then the safety strategy can run an automatic return to the starting point or suspend the flight, which in the built-up area frequently ends with a collision.
MON confirms: we are dealing with sabotage
The situation was officially addressed Minister of Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamish. During a press conference at the military base in Latków, he confirmed that GPS interference is simply a real threat.and their origin may be related to activities of the Russian Federation.
– We're watching these interferences. They are noted on the Baltic not only in our countries, but besides in allied countries – the Nordic and Baltic countries. According to our sources, these are sabotage activities of the Russian Federation – stressed Deputy Prime Minister Kosiniak-Kamish.
In consequence to the escalation of the problem, Security Committeehe participated in, among others, gene. Maciej Klisz, operational commander of types of armed forces. Developed a number of recommendationswhich have been transmitted both Military aviationand civiland Polish Air Navigation Agency.
The problem goes beyond Poland
GPS interference on the Baltic Sea is not a local phenomenon. akin cases have already been reported Estonia, Lithuania and Finland. The services there, like Polish, attribute these activities Russia's radio-electronic war. Distortions are not only aimed at disorientation of civilian users, but besides testing the resilience of military and air systems.
Losses and safety risks
Although in most cases drones are civilian devices, their falling in crowded public places, specified as beaches or boulevards, constitutes a real threat to humans. Users besides study problems with electrical scooters or localization applications, which show unrealistic positions – e.g. in the mediate of the Baltic.
According to photographers and operators, most disturbances happen in the afternoon and evening, as well as in the area of highly frequent tourist destinations: Gdynia Eagle, Sopot, Hel and Jastarnia.
Are there any ways to defend the drone?
Experts advise drone users to:
- They flew only in manual mode, limiting dependence on GPS.
- Avoided coastal areaswhere the hazard of jamming and spoofing is greatest.
- They invested in equipment with signal redundancy systems and safety functions in case of interference.
- They regularly updated firmwareto better respond to different situations.
Authorities are not presently recommending a civilian flight ban, but recommending careful in the operation of drones on the Baltic.
Future perspective: fresh government and monitoring
The drone incidental can accelerate amendments to government on the usage of drones in border and coastal zones. It is besides possible to introduce continuous monitoring of GPS signals in delicate areas, which would let faster detection of anomalies and their sources.
At this minute the most crucial step – for both amateurs and professionals – is hazard awareness and avoiding flying in affected areas. The summertime of 2025 on the Baltic, although visually beautiful, has become a challenge for the full community of users of unmanned technologies.
Continued here:
GPS's gone crazy by the sea. Signal disturbances throughout the region
