Information periodically appears in the media that an unidentified electronic warfare system (EW) periodically operates in the Kerch Strait area. It affects reconnaissance planes and drones that regularly appear in the area. АиФ.ги I was looking for answers to questions about what kind of systems they are and how reliable such information can be.
What was the last incident?
In mid-October, it became known that near the Kerch Strait, in the area where the RC-135W Rivet Joint aircraft was making a reconnaissance flight, the data exchange between it and the GPS global positioning system was disrupted. Previously, a similar situation has already been observed, and what is very remarkable, a repeat incident occurred in the same area. This suggests to experts that a complex of electronic warfare and electronic suppression has been deployed in the Kerch Bridge area.
How do electronic warfare work?
Recall that electronic warfare systems are designed to protect against both reconnaissance aircraft and attempts to attack bases from the air. The complexes can disable enemy aircraft radars, bomb and missile homing systems, and interfere with the operation of drones. Most often, the complex analyzes the type of signal and affects the enemy with strong interference radiation.
Is it only in Crimea that such incidents occur?
No. It is reported that American reconnaissance planes regularly fly near the Russian borders. Their routes run in the north of Europe, in the Baltic and Black Seas. For example, the flight of a reconnaissance aircraft took place on November 27, 2018, it was approaching the coastline of the Crimean Peninsula by 31 km. The aircraft with the tail number 168 848 is part of the 26th patrol Squadron of the US Navy. Also on November 27, an American strategic drone RQ-4A Global Hawk conducted reconnaissance in the area. He carried out monitoring of the demarcation line in Donbass.
The Pentagon regularly complains that the Russian electronic warfare systems “Krasukha-4”, “Resident” and “Samarkand”, involved in Syria, create inconvenience to American pilots. Because of them, navigation and control system failures allegedly occurred in American reconnaissance drones, AC-130 transporters and Apache helicopters, which more than once had to be crash-landed in dangerous areas.
However, it wasn’t just Americans who complained. Israeli pilots have periodically stated that they encounter GPS signal failures. In their opinion, they are opposed by the complex “Moscow”.
In 2018, Russia was accused of involvement in attacks on GPS systems in northern Finland and Norway, which allegedly took place during the active phase of NATO exercises. The Finnish authorities stated that during the exercises, which took place from October 25 to November 7, attacks on navigation systems were recorded, which complicated the work of military equipment and civil aviation.
EW “Resident” R-330J. Photo: http://www.youtube.com/
True or false?
The Defense Ministry previously reported that over the past few years, Russia has deployed powerful electronic warfare (EW) systems in all regions of increased interest to the likely enemy, Crimea. It has been repeatedly reported that NATO ships are not capable of reconnaissance of the coast due to the effective counteraction of electronic warfare. The Ministry of Defense only names different electronic warfare systems that counteract the airborne radars of strike, reconnaissance and unmanned aircraft, there is no official information about their specific actions.
What is in service with the Russian army?
Russia has a large arsenal of electronic warfare that can disorient various types of weapons. According to the Ministry of Defense, from 2012 to 2021, more than two dozen new models of electronic warfare equipment were accepted for supply. There are also novelties among them, the range of which is several hundred kilometers.
To counter both drones and guided weapons, promising complexes “Field-21” are designed. They suppress all major foreign satellite navigation systems, including the American GPS NAVSTAR and the Chinese Beidou within a radius of tens of kilometers. When using multiple jamming stations, this zone can be expanded. Its configuration can be flexibly controlled by removing interference in one area and installing it in another. Aircraft caught in it lose the ability to navigate and perform their combat missions.
The Murmansk-BN complexes are designed to suppress operational and strategic communications in enemy headquarters between warships and aircraft. Their range reaches 5 thousand km.
