How Russia Overcame Drone Challenge in Ukraine

Russia claims its weapons provide an edge over the Ukrainian Military that utilizes several types of drones, including the Turkey-made famed Bayraktar TB2.

On June 10, the Russian defense ministry said its military managed to destroy 1,168 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

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 (EW) complexes are an effective, flexible and convenient means of countering drones, as per Interfax report.

Russia has used various domestic EW equipment since the very beginning of the war. 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.

In mid-April, the Russian defense ministry showed the work of the Murmansk-BN and Krasukha-4 complexes. It demonstrated the operation and use of the Palantin product. Outwardly, the operation of the EW systems does not look very impressive - vehicles with antenna devices simply stand in position, and their calculations work quietly in the cockpits.

Moreover, 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.

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.

Ways to counter enemy drones

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 1,150 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.

The Ministry of Defense has repeatedly demonstrated the combat work of our military and facility air defense against various air targets, incl. unmanned. SAM and ZRAK crews successfully shoot down the targets found and confirm the characteristics of their equipment. In addition, curious materials are being received 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.

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 weapons are now being used to combat UAVs"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.

Adapting to modern problems

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, 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.