Russia’s Secret Weapon Tobol Linked to Jamming of Planes’ Signals
A mysterious weapon known as Tobol, believed to be used by Russia to jam signals, may be behind the recent electronic attacks on commercial flights over the Baltic Sea. The Tobol system, previously used to disrupt signals of ships on NATO’s eastern flank, is reportedly housed at a Russian military base in Kaliningrad, between Lithuania and Poland.
The electronic attacks have caused disruptions in satellite navigation systems, making it difficult for thousands of flights to navigate their routes. The Sun has released images of a large satellite dish at the Kaliningrad base, claiming it to be part of the Tobol system. However, there has been no official confirmation of this claim.
According to reports, there are 10 such devices across Russia, aimed at protecting Russian bases from potential missile attacks by confusing the weapons. While the jamming can disrupt satellite signals, it cannot prevent missiles from exploding.
Researchers have explained that jamming can occur in two ways – targeting satellites directly in space or targeting receivers on the ground. Bart Hendrickx, a researcher, has suggested that Tobol operates in a similar manner.
Recent GPS disruptions reported by countries like Finland, Poland, and Sweden have been linked to Tobol. Sweden’s Lieutenant Colonel Joakim Paasikivi has attributed the interference to “Russian influence activities or so-called hybrid warfare.”
Russia’s experimentation with Tobol to disrupt satellite transmissions in Ukraine has raised concerns about the weapon’s capabilities. The US intelligence report has highlighted the importance of satellite networks like Starlink for Ukraine’s operations and communications.