site.btaNo GPS Disruptions Detected on Bulgarian Cougar Helicopters During EC President's Visit, Says Defence Minister

No disruptions were detected in the GPS readings and onboard instruments of the Bulgarian Cougar helicopters used during the August 31 visit by European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen, said Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov.

This response was published on Parliament's website to a question from MP Ivaylo Mirchev of Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria about the presence of Defence Ministry aircraft during the suspected jamming of von der Leyen's plane.

Von der Leyen and Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov visited the VMZ ordnance plant in the town of Sopot on August 31. The following day, The Financial Times reported that alleged Russian interference had caused disruptions to the GPS navigation of the EC President's plane near the southern city of Plovdiv.  

Zapryanov explained that three helicopters were stationed at Plovdiv Civil Airport until the arrival of von der Leyen's plane. After the delegation boarded, the three helicopters started their engines; two of them took off for Sopot at 5:50 pm, while the third, spare, helicopter returned to Krumovo Air Base near Plovdiv. Landing in the VMZ Sopot area occurred at 6:10 pm. 

Between 5:40 pm and 6:10 pm, during engine start-up, take-off and flight, the crews did not detect any disturbances in GPS readings or onboard instruments, the Defence Minister said. 

Other than the two helicopters' mission, no military flights took place on August 31, and consequently no reports of navigation system deviations were received, Zapryanov said.