GPS jammer found in Bulgarian capital Sofia near airport area
A powerful GPS signal jamming device was discovered and neutralized in Sofia, Bulgaria, affecting the area around the capital's international airport. The airport confirmed flights continued on schedule without disruption.
Authorities in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, discovered and disabled a powerful device used to suppress GPS signals in the Dragalevtsi district, according to Novinite, as cited by "Yevropeiska Pravda".
The operation was carried out jointly by the State Agency for National Security, the Communications Regulation Commission, and the State Security Service under the Ministry of Interior.
According to the State Agency for National Security, the device suppressed GPS frequencies across Sofia. Its effects reached the area around Vasil Levski International Airport, aircraft flying over the capital, and television towers.
Aviation safety concerns
The discovery raised concerns about the potential impact of GPS interference on aviation and other critical systems that rely on satellite positioning and time synchronization.
However, Sofia Airport stated that its operations were not disrupted and flights continued on schedule.
Bulgarian National Radio reported that Sofia had recently experienced GPS signal problems affecting aircraft during takeoff and landing. However, publicly available information does not confirm that these disruptions were caused specifically by the device found in Dragalevtsi. There is also currently no public evidence that the discovered jammer caused disruptions to critical infrastructure. Bulgarian authorities have not disclosed the device's technical specifications, including its actual range and power.
Earlier, Denmark recorded record levels of GPS signal disruption near the island of Bornholm this year, Finland warned in May of frequent GPS outages near the Åland Islands, and Sweden reported a sharp rise in GPS interference over the Baltic Sea in 2025, affecting civil aviation.
