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   The number of navigation disruptions in air traffic through Russia in northern   
   Europe has increased sharply in recent years. The English-language Norwegian   
   online newspaper The Barents Observer writes this based on reports from pilots   
   and the aviation authorities.   
       
   Pilots from SAS, Norwegian and Wideroe regularly report that their navigation   
   systems show deviations in the far north of Europe, around the Barents Sea. In   
   the Norwegian province of Finnmark, which borders Russia, authorities have   
   recorded 44 GPS disruptions so far this year.   
       
   GPS jamming makes it more difficult for airline pilots to determine their   
   course, which can put them in a dangerous situation. Ships also use GPS and   
   experience inconvenience from Russian jammers in Scandinavia.   
       
   The Norwegians see a connection between the increased jamming and the war in   
   Ukraine, which started two years ago. Oslo points the accusing finger at   
   Moscow. In 2021 there were a total of 18 days of GPS disruptions in the   
   region, in 2022 this increased to 122 days and last year to 294 days.   
       
   Murmansk Oblast is home to Russia's Northern Naval Fleet, which is also   
   equipped with electronic warfare units known for possessing hackers and   
   jammers.   
       
   Norway was one of the twelve founders of NATO in 1949. The two neighboring   
   countries Sweden and Finland did not become NATO members because they pursued   
   strict neutrality.   
       
   The Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 changed that, both the Finns and the   
   Swedes no longer wanted to remain outside the military treaty organization due   
   to the Russian threat.   
       
   Finland has been a member of NATO since April 4, 2023. On Monday, Hungary   
   became the last NATO country to vote for Sweden's accession. Now that NATO is   
   a closed bloc in northern Europe, the Russians may be more actively focused on   
   disrupting aviation and shipping communications.   
      
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