UAV suppression systems EDM4S-UA. Useless novelty for Ukraine
Foreign countries are transferring various radio engineering and electronic equipment to the Ukrainian army. In particular, the Lithuanian company NT Service supplies EDM4S-UA manual drone suppression systems. However, the production of such products faces certain difficulties, and the pace of supplies remains low. In addition, new interesting details of international cooperation are being clarified.
Contracts and deliveries
The wide distribution of various UAVs of military and commercial types, as well as the risks and threats associated with them, have become the reason for the mass and active development of specialized electronic warfare systems. Such systems in a portable or stationary version are offered for use at important facilities, as well as in the troops and law enforcement agencies.
A few years ago, the Ukrainian army decided to keep up with current trends and ordered hand-held electronic warfare systems to combat UAVs. From the whole variety of products available for order, we chose the EDM4S Skysweeper systems from the Lithuanian company NT Service. The contract for their supply was signed in 2020. It is curious that the Ukrainian-Lithuanian cooperation was organized through the NATO Support and Supply Agency.
Complex setup
Under the terms of the agreement, the manufacturer had to modify the existing system in accordance with the requirements and needs of the customer. This version of the product was designated EDM4S-UA. Then it was necessary to manufacture and transfer to the Ukrainian army a series of 37 complexes. They wanted to receive the first of them by the end of 2020. The possibility of an additional agreement was not ruled out. To simplify the interaction between the customer and the contractor in Ukraine, a branch of a Lithuanian company called NTU Service was opened.
Plans for the timing of the start of deliveries could not be fulfilled. The delivery of the first EDM4S-UA complex was delayed for several months and took place only in March 2021. It is curious that a whole event was made from the transfer of the finished product. In a solemn atmosphere, the Lithuanian president personally handed over to the Ukrainian commander in chief the only complex manufactured at that time.
In the fall of last year, new data on deliveries appeared. By this time, the Ukrainian army received about 10-12 electronic warfare systems and distributed them to units for further development. Naturally, such news were presented as unprecedented progress with a great future. At the same time, the topic of the pace of production and the timing of the entire contract for 37 units. did not rise.
"Shotgun in a Container"
It is possible that before February 24, 2022, the Ukrainian army managed to receive several additional complexes, but there is no exact data on this. It is also obvious that the EDM4S-UA can be used against Russian unmanned vehicles, but even here the details remain unknown. It can be assumed that such products do not have any noticeable effect on the actions of our UAVs.
New Details
On April 7, the French edition of Intelligence Online published new details of the Ukrainian-Lithuanian cooperation in the field of electronic warfare. As it turned out, a third country is involved in the processes around EDM4S-UA products, and all interaction is organized taking into account its interests and restrictions.
According to Intelligence Online, the real developer of the EDM4S complex is the Israeli company Skylock. It is part of the Avnon holding and specializes in electronic warfare systems. Customers are offered various solutions for the protection of objects, convoys, etc. In particular, manual complexes are being developed.
Installing the battery
The Lithuanian company NT Service is directly related to Skylock and is actually its representative office in the EU. Now the Israeli company is trying to win back a place in the European market, and the presence of such an "intermediary" makes it much easier to achieve its goals.
In recent weeks, the existence of "independent" companies in Lithuania and Ukraine has helped to solve another economic and political problem. Israel refuses to provide Ukraine with military-technical assistance at the level of the Ministry of Defense. However, in the case of electronic warfare systems, a private company operates. In addition, cooperation through the Lithuanian "intermediary" dramatically reduces political risks - formally, the Israeli company has nothing to do with deliveries.
However, it was not possible to hide the schemes for organizing interaction, production and supplies. They got into the foreign media and are now known to the general public. What will follow is unknown. A wide range of consequences are possible: news may be overlooked or used in political and economic struggle.
Electronic warfare means
The Skylock / NT Service EDM4S product is a specialized electronic warfare tool designed to combat UAVs of various classes. With ease of use in mind, it is designed in the popular “anti-drone gun” form factor for ease of operation and use.
The EDM4S complex is based on a copy of the German G36 rifle. A slightly altered receiver was used, with a standard fire control handle, stock and carrying handle. New radio units are placed inside and outside the box.
Yes, in front of weapons four radio-transparent casings of various shapes are installed, inside of which there are directional antennas. The battery is mounted on the side. Inside the box, apparently, is a transmitter and other equipment. A suitable type of collimator sight is placed on the standard bar.
The exact characteristics of the complex have not been published. At the same time, its functions and capabilities are known. Skysweeper is designed to suppress UAV control channels and satellite navigation signals. Operating ranges and interference power are determined taking into account the characteristics of common commercial drones.
"Anti-drone gun" can operate within line of sight, incl. if there is any visual interference that does not interfere with the passage of radio signals. Depending on the mode of operation, EDM4S disrupts the connection between the UAV and the operator's console or interferes with the determination of coordinates. As a result, the drone cannot perform its tasks and flies away or lands.
As potential customers of such an electronic warfare complex, various security organizations and other structures that are faced with the risks and threats of unmanned aerial vehicles are considered. aviation. In particular, EDM4S or another system of this class can be used by airport security services or the protection of military installations.
Benefits not for everyone
EDM4S-UA electronic warfare complexes turned out to be at the center of a very interesting stories. It turned out that their origin is more complicated than previously stated, and a curious scheme is organized to fulfill the contract. However, even this approach did not allow two or three parties to fulfill the terms of the contract and deliver all the ordered products within a reasonable time.
Demonstration of work: the video signal from the UAV is lost
With all this, the practical value of the resulting complexes, at least, is in question. The Skysweeper product is designed to deal with relatively simple commercial UAVs, and its potential is insufficient to fully counter military vehicles. In addition, a negative factor is the small number of complexes ordered and received.
Thus, the Ukrainian army spent money and received virtually useless equipment that will not help it in the current situation. At the same time, manufacturing companies received a profitable order and additional advertising for their products. It can also be assumed that the persons responsible for concluding the contract did not lose out either.
- Ryabov Kirill
- NT Service
Information