Evolution of FPV Drones in Electronic Warfare
The advent of FPV drones on the battlefield has transformed electronic warfare, emphasizing the critical need for jamming drone-operator connections to ensure survival in modern combat. One significant advancement is the creation of portable, personalized electronic warfare (EW) systems that soldiers can carry in vehicles or backpacks.
Ukraine and Russia are locked in a competition to develop advanced EW capabilities, probing each other's systems for vulnerabilities and spurring rapid innovation. Kvertus, a leading Ukrainian EW manufacturer, reported delivering dozens of systems monthly in 2022, scaling to hundreds in 2023, and anticipating thousands in 2024, reflecting the soaring demand.
To cultivate a robust EW market, Ukraine must expedite its development by investing in research and development, encouraging collaboration between manufacturers and military experts, and streamlining production processes.
Bohdan Miroshnychenko of Europeiska Pravda interviewed Ukrainian EW manufacturers, uncovering insights into the latest innovations, challenges, and opportunities within the industry.
Frequency Wars and Technological Advancements
FPV drones, manually guided by operators, are susceptible to jamming through radio frequency interference. EW systems aim to overpower these frequencies, causing drones to crash by severing their control links. The effectiveness of jamming depends on factors such as drone sophistication, operator distance, jamming equipment quality, and precise frequency tuning.
Originally targeting the 850-930 MHz range, EW systems must now adapt to new Russian frequencies, like 720-1020 MHz. This ongoing technological cat-and-mouse game forces both sides to swiftly transition to new frequencies, enhance drone detection, and deploy jamming technology broadly.
Innovative countermeasures have emerged, such as Russia’s 10km wired drone, impervious to jamming, and autonomous machine vision drones that can strike targets even after losing control links.
To maintain an edge, Ukraine needs to develop a versatile suite of advanced, user-friendly EW capabilities. Mass production and cost reduction are essential to supply the front lines with tens of thousands of these systems.
Ukraine's Brave1 Program for EW Development
To accelerate military technology, particularly EW capabilities against Russian drones, Ukraine established the Brave1 state program. This initiative supports development through grants, helps the military identify effective technologies, creates an integrated industry platform, facilitates interaction between developers and end-users, and backs critical defense projects.
Currently, around 50 companies are developing counter-drone systems through Brave1, ranging from portable anti-drone rifles to larger area protection "domes," according to Oleh Donets, the program’s EW lead.
Portable EW Systems in Ukraine
Kvertus has developed an innovative EW backpack system, providing Ukrainian troops with mobile counter-drone protection for $7,000. Operating in the 720-1050 MHz range, it jams and disables hostile Russian drones. Designed for small units of 8-10 soldiers, the backpack's protective dome spans several hundred meters and operates for two hours on a rechargeable battery.
Obrii Miltek offers a cost-effective counter-drone system, the ANTIFPV EW dome, priced at $1,400 per unit. Protecting troops and vehicles within a 200m radius, it comes in two variants: a tripod-mounted version for static defense and a magnet-mounted version for vehicles, facilitating widespread deployment.
Infozakhyst's Pluton system is a state-of-the-art drone detection and warning system that identifies Russian drones within a 70-kilometer radius. While it doesn’t directly jam signals, it can automatically trigger electronic countermeasures upon detecting a threat, making it invaluable despite its $45,000 price tag.
Achieving EW Independence
Ukraine boasts over 100 EW designs, with Kvertus producing 22 models. However, reliance on Chinese-made components poses a risk, prompting efforts to localize production using European microchips. Multi-band EW capabilities are essential to counter drones operating across diverse frequency ranges, as noted by Kvertus co-founder Yaroslav Filimonov.
Ukraine also produces large EW systems to counter missiles, Shahed drones, and reconnaissance UAVs, capable of jamming GPS signals or replacing them with false ones. Some systems, like Bukovel, Nota, and Pokrova, are well-known, while others remain classified.
Expanding the EW Market
The mobile EW systems market in Ukraine is competitive, with manufacturers serving military, law enforcement, and private entities. In 2022, charitable foundations and businesses comprised 80% of Kvertus's sales; in 2023, 85% were state, military, and community purchases.
Military units have been allocated $240 million in 2024 for urgent equipment procurement, enabling rapid acquisition of effective but uncodified systems. However, this approach requires careful oversight to ensure efficient fund use.
Ukrainian cities and private companies also invest in EW systems to protect against drone threats. Despite initial chaos in the EW market, it is evolving, with small teams collaborating to create better products and seeking state codification.
To stay technologically aligned with frontline needs, Ukraine must streamline the codification process and scale production to meet the growing demand for EW systems. Long-term state orders are essential to support manufacturers and ensure sufficient supply of these critical systems.
Comments
Post a Comment