Swedish transport regulators are to raise the issue of satellite-based navigation interference with ICAO, following a sharp rise in the number of incidents in the Baltic Sea region.

The transport agency Transportstyrelsen says it receives reports of such interference “almost daily” from aircraft in the region, with disturbances – which have increased since the end of 2023 – having “intensified significantly” over the past year.

These disturbances have broadened “both geographically and in scope”, says Transportstyrelsen manager Andreas Holmgren, and occur “over water and land in Sweden”.

“This is serious and it is a safety risk for civil aviation, not least given the extent, duration and nature of the disruptions,” he adds.

The agency lists 733 occurrences in Swedish airspace this year, up to 28 August, compared with 495 for the whole of last year.

Sweden and five other regional countries – Finland, Poland and the three Baltic states – made a joint submission on the matter to ICAO in June.

Interference is the subject of several working papers to the ICAO Assembly which begins towards the end of September.

“The source of the interference has been traced to Russian territory,” says Transportstyrelsen.

“Despite pressure from the [ICAO Council], disturbances have instead increased in the Baltic Sea area.”