Pentagon warns of potential Russian action in the Arctic — including jamming GPS satellites

The Pentagon has released an updated Arctic strategy that warns of low-level Russian "destabilizing" activities in the Far North aimed at the United States, Canada and its allies.

The 18-page assessment, released earlier this week, also points to increased naval co-operation in the region between Moscow and Beijing and promises more allied military exercises, the deployment of new technologies and increased co-operation with NATO.

The disruption activities in the Arctic involve potential Russian jamming of global positioning system (GPS) satellites, according to the report.

"Of concern, Russia's Arctic capabilities have the potential to hold the U.S. homeland, as well as allied and partner territory, at risk," said the strategy.

"In addition to nuclear, conventional, and special operations threats, Russia seeks to carry out lower level destabilizing activities in the Arctic against the United States and our allies, including through global positioning system jamming and military flights that are conducted in an unprofessional manner inconsistent with international law and custom."

The strategy noted how the quickest way to attack the United States with long-range missiles would be through the Arctic — something soon-to-be retiring NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has noted on several occasions.

"Russia continues to invest heavily in new military infrastructure and refurbishing Soviet-era installations in the Arctic," the strategy said.

"Despite some attrition of Russia's conventional land forces due to losses in Ukraine, its strategic, air, and maritime forces remain intact. Further, Russia has demonstrated the ability to reconstitute and reorganize its conventional ground forces, which illuminates the potential for future improved readiness and combat expertise in the Arctic."

A Canadian defence expert said the updated strategy is noteworthy on several levels, including the open discussion about GPS jamming, which several European countries bordering Russia — including Finland, Estonia and Poland — started complaining about last spring.

Rob Huebert, the interim director of the Centre for Military, Security and Strategic Studies at the University of Calgary, said jamming in the Arctic would represent an escalation from what's been seen thus far and should be a major concern for Canada given commercial aviation.

GPS is an important navigation tool for airlines. The satellite-based system has replaced expensive ground devices that would transmit radio beams to guide planes toward their destination.

Last May, Russia was suspected of launching an unprecedented 63-hour-long attack on GPS signals across the Baltic region, an incident which affected hundreds of passenger jets.

Given that Russia has developed and has been using hypersonic missiles in the war in Ukraine — weapons systems that could be turned on North America in the event of a major conflict — jamming over the Far North makes sense, if it has taken place.

"They could be practicing" in the event of a conflict, Huebert said in an interview.