Electronic and anti-aircraft weapons: combating UAVs in the Special Operations
Russian anti-aircraft gunner and the wreckage of the Ukrainian UAV Bayraktar TB2
In the recent past, Ukraine had a fairly large fleet of unmanned aviation complexes of different classes and types. At the end of February, it began to be used against the Russian army, and the results of this were predictable. Our army has a wide range of means at its disposal to counter and destroy UAVs - and they constantly demonstrate their potential.
Future targets
Since 2014, the Kyiv regime, using the advice and assistance of foreign countries, began to build a full-fledgedfleet» drones. Foreign samples of different classes were purchased, and unsuccessful attempts were made to create their own technology. By the beginning of this year, a total of several hundred complexes had entered service.
The army and other structures were supplied with UAVs for various purposes and different classes. First of all, light reconnaissance drones of local or foreign production, military and civilian, were purchased. The heavy class was initially represented only by the old Soviet Reys and Swifts, but a few years ago, purchases of Turkish Bayraktar TB2s began. There was also a certain interest in the so-called. loitering ammunition.
Electronic warfare complex "Palantin" in position
With the beginning of the Russian special operation, the fleet of Ukrainian UAVs began to shrink. To compensate for the losses, new deliveries of foreign equipment of all main classes began, incl. widely advertised. However, imported products face the same threats and are regularly suppressed or shot down.
According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the Ukrainian army has lost approx. 1150 drones of all types. The number of thwarted sorties, in which the vehicles could not solve the task due to opposition, is unknown and can hardly be counted. At the same time, Ukraine still has a solid stock of UAVs and continues to use them. Accordingly, the number of downed devices will continue to grow.
Opposition and suppression
A characteristic disadvantage and problem of almost all UAVs is the dependence on radio communications. Commands, telemetry and video signals are transmitted over radio channels, and their suppression interferes with the full performance of tasks. In this regard, electronic warfare complexes are an effective, flexible and convenient means of countering drones.
Calculation "Stole" at work
Various domestic electronic warfare equipment has been used from the very beginning of the Special Operation. The Ministry of Defense regularly shows their work and reveals some of its results. It is reported that in the combat zone and in the rear, both full-size systems on a car chassis and portable or portable systems are used.
So, in mid-April, the Ministry of Defense showed the work of the Murmansk-BN and Krasukha-4 complexes. In early June, they demonstrated the operation and use of the Palantin product. Outwardly, the operation of the electronic warfare systems does not look very impressive - vehicles with antenna devices simply stand in position, and their calculations work quietly in the cockpits.
At the same time, any such complex can remotely affect several aerial unmanned targets within a radius of tens or hundreds of kilometers. Without external effects, control channels are suppressed and the combat mission is disrupted. So, in one of the April videos from the Ministry of Defense, the EW company commander said that during one of the duties, his unit had to simultaneously suppress 12 enemy reconnaissance and strike UAVs. They lost contact with the operators and were unable to strike at our troops.
Electronic warfare complex "Murmansk-BN"
It should be noted that UAVs are only one of the targets of electronic warfare systems. Depending on the current situation, "Krasukha", "Stoles" and other products can detect and suppress communication channels of military units, radar signals, etc. As a result, the enemy troops do not have the opportunity to fully monitor the Russian army, coordinate their actions and solve combat missions in general.
Matters of Defeat
When communication channels are suppressed, the UAV cannot conduct reconnaissance or strike, but is able to return to the base to prepare for the next flight. If the drone gets into the zone of destruction of air defense, not only the solution of the assigned task is excluded, but also its further existence. Russian air defense has already chalked up more than 1150 unmanned targets, including advertised imported ones.
As part of our ground forces operating in Ukraine, there is a developed military air defense. In addition, important areas are covered by object defense systems. All of them interact with radar facilities that illuminate the situation above the line of contact and to a great depth of enemy territory. Such layered air defense poses a great danger to both manned aircraft and air defense.
ZRPK "Pantsir-S1", involved in the Special Operation
The Ministry of Defense has repeatedly demonstrated the combat work of our military and facility air defense against various air targets, incl. unmanned. The calculations of the ADMS and ZRAK successfully shoot down the targets found and confirm the characteristics of their equipment. In addition, curious materials are coming in from the Ukrainian side. So, a video was published from a drone that managed to film the flight of a missile aimed at it.
The Pantsir-S1 complex again proves to be an effective means of combating UAVs. He has already demonstrated his capabilities in exercises, as well as in real battles in Syria and Libya. Now he confirms the ability to intercept drones of various classes, incl. small and light. In addition, the "Shells" made a certain contribution to the destruction of the group of vaunted "Bayraktars". With the help of guided missiles, he is able to hit such targets at ranges up to 15-20 km, and guns allow you to attack objects at short ranges.
Defeat the target "Shell"
To defeat heavy reconnaissance and strike UAVs, the Tor and Buk air defense systems of the latest models are also used. The Tor-M2 short-range complex controls the airspace within a radius of 12 km, and the Buk-M3 is capable of hitting targets 70 km away. Both systems cover all operating heights of existing unmanned aircraft.
Russian air defense systems pose a particular danger to Ukrainian unmanned aircraft. They have repeatedly demonstrated a high probability of hitting UAVs of all classes in a wide range of ranges and altitudes. At the same time, the enemy drone is forced to enter the zone of destruction of the air defense system - otherwise it will not be able to conduct reconnaissance or use its weapons.
Not so long ago it became known that for the fight against UAVs is now used weapon "on new physical principles". Together with the well-known equipment, the Zadira combat laser complex is involved in the Special Operation. It is reported that this product is capable of suppressing optical systems and / or destroying the structure of a drone from a distance of 5 km. Unfortunately, the work of "Badass" has not yet been shown.
SAM "Tor-M2" in position
Demonstration of opportunities
The value and potential of unmanned aircraft became known for a long time, and the consequence of this was a special attention to the issues of combating it. As it turned out, such tasks can be solved by complexes of traditional classes - anti-aircraft missile systems and electronic warfare systems. Our industry has extensive experience in these areas and has been able to adapt existing and future products to new challenges. In addition, it was possible to create a fundamentally new sample of an unusual kind, which is already demonstrating its capabilities.
Developments in the field of combating UAVs were regularly practiced during various tests and during army exercises. The proposed ideas and solutions confirmed their potential and, if necessary, were improved. As a result, the armed forces received a set of various systems and complexes capable of dealing with the entire spectrum of current threats.
Right now, domestic means and systems designed to combat unmanned aircraft are demonstrating their capabilities in the course of real combat operations. They have already destroyed more than 1150 enemy UAVs and disrupted a huge number of sorties. At the same time, along with a downed drone, enemy troops each time lose certain capabilities, which contributes to their speedy demilitarization.
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