The UK is stepping up its defense against an escalating threat: GPS jamming. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has announced plans to build a new facility designed to protect military equipment from interference with their GPS signals. This so-called ‘silent hangar’ will be one of the largest of its kind in Europe and is set to open in 2026.
The facility, located at MoD Boscombe Down in Wiltshire, will be used to test a wide range of military equipment, including Protector drones, Chinook helicopters, armored vehicles, and fast jets. These tests will be conducted in a specialized hangar designed to reduce reflections, echoes, and the escape of radio-frequency waves, simulating the harshest electromagnetic environments that troops may encounter during operations.
The £20 million ($26 million) project has been awarded to QinetiQ, a leading defense technology company. The MoD has highlighted the growing threat of hostile actors jamming GPS signals to disorient military equipment. Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Maria Eagle, stated that this cutting-edge facility will help eliminate vulnerabilities and ensure the UK’s Armed Forces remain protected during global deployments.
Concerns about GPS jamming have been rising in recent months. In April, Estonia and other Baltic states warned of a heightened risk of aviation accidents due to widespread GPS interference, blaming Russian “hybrid activity.” Just a month earlier, a British Royal Air Force plane carrying the UK’s then-defense minister experienced GPS jamming while flying near Russian territory.
Will Blamey, chief executive of UK Defence at QinetiQ, emphasized the importance of the testing, stating that it will be crucial to strengthening the resilience of military equipment. These developments come as the UK undergoes a major review of its armed forces, ordered by Prime Minister Keir Starmer in July. This review aims to chart a course for increasing defense spending to 2.5 percent of GDP, a move prompted by the changing global security landscape. The UK’s defense spending in 2023 stood at 2.26 percent, according to official figures.
The construction of this new facility signals the UK’s commitment to safeguarding its military capabilities in an increasingly complex and challenging world, where adversaries are increasingly utilizing electronic warfare techniques to disrupt operations.
