Russia To Wage Electronic Warfare Against Turkey

Russia will resort to electronic warfare to protect its aircraft from being struck by air-to-air missiles.

In retaliation to the downing of its Su-24 fighter jet November 24, Russia has also issued sanctions against Turkey. The situation between Russia-Turkey continues to heat up with Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan warning Russian President Vladimir Putin, ‘not to play with fire.’

Since the downing of their warplane, the Russians have put in place new electronic warfare multifunctional systems both airborne and on the ground to disrupt Turkish flights and forces, Lt. Gen. Evgeny Buzhinksy revealed Friday to Russian media. The equipment is intended to jam the communication equipment on board enemy aircraft. Turkey has countered by installing the KORAL electronic jamming system along its southern border with Syria.

Both Russia and Turkey are beefing up their military power at the Syrian-Turkish border. Russia recently deployed S-300 and S-400 advanced anti-air missile systems to Syria. Turkey increased its F-16 patrol fleet to 18 from 12 at the border and also deployed additional 20 tanks.

Turkey has suspended its flight over Syria as a caution to avoid the risk of being shot down by Russian anti-air missile systems deployed in Syria.

“Russia will have to resort to electronic jamming and other warfare equipment, including special aircraft with special equipment on board to protect our pilots from being struck by missiles,” Russian Lt.-Gen.Evgeny Buzhinsky was quoted as saying in the Russian media last Thursday.

While threatening the Russian leader, Erdogan also asked to meet him at the climate conference in Paris next week. He must first apologize for the downing of the Russian warplane, Putin’s aide Yuri Ushakov was quoted as saying on Friday.

Putin has approved sanctions against Turkey that include suspension of visa-free travel, halting tours to Turkey and a ban on the hiring of Turkish nationals. Russia has also imposed economic sanctions under which the import of certain products originating from Turkey will be temporarily banned or restricted.

The decree came hours after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had voiced regret over the incident, saying his country was “truly saddened” by the event and wished it hadn’t occurred.

“It’s not just Turkey that has economic interests, Russia too has economic interests in relation to Turkey,” Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said, according to the state-run Anadolu news agency. Turkey expects Russian officials to act in a cool-headed manner, he said.