Since the early period of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, advanced military technology has played a pivotal role in the conflict on both sides, with the Ukrainians gaining multiple advantages over the Russians in the early days of the war which was undauntedly circulated socially showing how Kyiv have wrecked a lot of havoc on the forces from Moscow.
With an unprecedented victory over Russia at the earlier stage, the forces of Moscow had learned their lesson in the bitter way, a provocation that made the Russians more disciplined and organized in the following months.
While the media information on the ongoing war in Ukraine is centered mainly on the use of sophisticated weapons like missiles, armored vehicles, aircraft, etc, little emphasis was put on the underground game-changer military technology which had been pivotal in the ongoing war.
The use of electronic warfare (EW) and air defense (AD) had received little or no attention but had played a key role in the war for the control of the electromagnetic spectrum domain (ESD) in Kyiv have been rising.
The advanced military technology of Russia’s electronic warfare had turned the tide to the approach of the war, the ability to control the ESD has brought recurring victories to the forces from Moscow.
In ensuring a suitable military advantage over Ukraine, the Russians basked on the superiority of their electronic warfare which has put the Russians at the forefront by making useless the drones used by the Ukrainians.
The advanced electronic warfare leveraged by Moscow to enjoy suitable military success in recent months includes:
RB-341B “Leer-3”
One of the Russian electronic warfare (EW) used in Ukraine is RB-341B, and according to a report from the Military -Industrial Courier (MIC), Leer-3 has the power to intercept traffic control and user connections by creating a “fake base station”.
Leer-3 can generate calls and SMS messages to all subscribers entering its area of operation, simultaneously provide effective blocking of enemy mobile phones and preserve the possibility of stable operation of their devices. The system can also determine the numbers dialed in the area of the virtual base station, allowing their own and blocking other people’s calls.
A report from 2019 by Izvestia has shown that the Russian RB-341B system can find the enemy by a cell phone signal and direct shock weapons at them in real-time.
The Orlan-10E
The Orlan-10E was developed by the Special Technology Center in St. Petersburg. It’s designed for aerial reconnaissance and surveillance from a maximum altitude of 6,000 meters (3.7 miles).
It can fly at a maximum speed of 70 miles per hour for up to 18 hours and can be controlled from around 90 miles away. It’s 1.8 meters (6 feet) long with a wingspan of 3.1 meters (10 feet) and a maximum takeoff weight of 18 kilograms (40 pounds), including a payload of 4.5 kilograms (10 pounds).
It is a medium-range, multipurpose aerial platform for missions including battlefield reconnaissance, surveillance, search and rescue, target tracking, combat training, jamming, and detection of radio signals.
Borisoglebsk 2.
This is a Russian MT-LB ground vehicle-mounted, multi-functional EW weapon system. It is designed to disrupt communications and GPS systems. Reports have shown that Borisoglebsk 2 is the core system for EW in the Russian Army, controlling four types of jamming units from a single point.
It is claimed that the system has caused difficulties for NATO, and even the U.S military commander in Europe, general Frederick states that, Russia is conducting EW in Ukraine that even NATO would have difficulties resisting.
RB-636 Svet-Ku.
This is a radio-electronic surveillance and reconnaissance system intended to detect and determine the position of enemy forces by analyzing communications and other radio signals.
Svet-KU EW system is used to target command posts and other concealed fortifications, it uses an 8×8 high mobility platform.
RB-109A Bylina.
This is a ground-based EW system developed to counter modern airborne assets. Bylina targets the airplane’s avionics systems rendering them unusable or even destroyed. The Bylina is expected to take out a variety of airborne threats ranging from aircraft and drones to cruise missiles.
Tirada-2S.
This is a secretive mobile, ground-based communications satellite jamming system used by the Russian to counter western satellite-based communications constellations.
The Tirada-2S EW system is deemed far superior to western analogs in terms of performance. The system works by disabling or destroying the satellite’s electronic communications.
With the continued use of the EW system enjoyed by the Russian, it will be no less before the city falls fully to the Russians unless Ukraine and the west look for a possible EW system to counter the Russians technologically.
