Russia is rendering sophisticated US weapons used in Ukraine useless through jamming, according to a report.
Russia is rendering sophisticated US weapons used in Ukraine useless through jamming, according to a report.
Russia’s electronic warfare capability has evolved significantly during the conflict with Ukraine, enabling them to disable “sophisticated” missiles provided to Ukraine by its Western allies by scrambling their GPS coordinates. This revelation has raised concerns about the effectiveness of missiles and other weapons used by Ukraine against Russian forces.
In the past, Russia relied on large and cumbersome electronic warfare units that were easy to target. However, they have now deployed hundreds of small, mobile units along the front line, making it more challenging for Ukraine to counter their actions. Bryan Clark, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, a US think tank, stated that Russia’s electronic warfare capability has significantly improved during the conflict. Their technologies can jam missile GPS coordinates, disable Ukrainian drones, and suppress Russian radar signals used by Ukraine for target identification.
One specific system, the R-330Zh Zhitel, is capable of suppressing satellite signals. This system can jam a GPS signal within a 30km radius, causing weapons like the US-made JDAM bombs to lose their geolocation and go off target. The concern over the effectiveness of JDAMs in Ukraine was previously raised by the UK think tank, The Royal United Services Institute, which cited leaked US documents expressing concerns about Russia jamming JDAM GPS coordinates.
JDAM bombs, among other weapons provided to Ukraine by the US, have a significant range and rely on GPS coordinates for guidance. However, Russia’s ability to scramble these coordinates has raised doubts about their effectiveness. The Defense Post reported that JDAMs have a greater range than the HIMARs long-range missiles, which Ukraine used to push back Russian forces in a counteroffensive last year. The hope was that these Western-supplied missiles would aid Ukraine in its new counteroffensive against Russian invaders. However, Russian defenses have proven resilient, with Western tanks being ineffective against the extensive minefields created by Russia.
Ukraine is now seeking ways to neutralize Russian electronic warfare units before launching missile strikes, playing a game of cat and mouse. Alternatively, they aim to target these units once they detect Russian attempts to block missile coordinates. However, these tactics have not yet secured Ukraine a decisive breakthrough.
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The conflict between Russia and Ukraine showcases the evolving nature of warfare, with electronic warfare becoming a critical component. The ability to disrupt communication and disable enemy weapons systems has become increasingly important. As technology advances, countries will continue to invest in enhancing their electronic warfare capabilities.