Russian Military Gets 3 Helos With 'Richag-AV' Electronic Warfare System

Radio-Electronic Technologies Concern (KRET) announced Wednesday that it has delivered new first batch of a three new Mi8-MTPR1 helicopter-mounted with electronic warfare system ('Richag-AV') to the Russian armed forces.

It can be mounted on units from any branch of the armed forces, including helicopters and airplanes, as well as ground and ship-based forces.

“This type of helicopters is fitted with a unique jammer that would ensure the protection for the group of airplanes, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, ground vehicles and ships from air attacks and strokes of enemy’s air defense systems within a radius of several hundred kilometers, – official spokesperson of the Air Force Colonel Igor Klimov was quoted as saying by local media.

According to him, the new system “is based on components of domestic production and has no analogues in the world.”

The Mi8-MTPR1-based Richag-AV platform uses multi-beam antenna arrays with DRFM technology. It is designed to jam radar systems against radio-electronic guided weapons systems. The system would operate as part of attack group aimed at breaking through virtually any defense system in a combat situation blinding anti-aircraft missile system.

Russia will receive a total of 18 such systems by October 2016, at a total cost of 11.5 billion rubles ($186 million).

Currently, Russia is equipped with L-175B Hibini air and 1L269 Krasuha-2 and 1L267 Moskva-1 ground-based electronic warfare systems.