Ukraine tests anti-jammer drones, reshaping battlefield tech
In Ukraine, drones equipped with jammer detection systems are being tested, which could significantly influence the war's course. Here’s what they are and how they work.
Both sides are testing advanced FPV drones equipped with radio-electronic emission detectors in Ukraine. Jammers make it very difficult, if not impossible, to use regular drones.
Electronic warfare systems create a bubble with a diameter of several dozen or several hundred metres, depending on power, within which the GPS or control signal used for communication between the drone and the pilot does not operate.
Current ways drone operators deal with jammers
The widespread use of jammers capable of covering various frequency ranges has made drones that autonomously attack a target designated by the pilot the most effective weapons, using methods such as artificial intelligence algorithms or drones controlled via fibre optics.
Both solutions have drawbacks, as AI-based drones are more costly and attacks' accuracy can vary. In contrast, fibre optic solutions have a limited range and a smaller payload than usual.
Anti-jammer drones — an interesting solution to a persistent problem
According to the portal Militarnyj, drones have been developed that can detect emission sources in 12 different frequency bands. This allows for the precise targeting of objects for other drones or artillery. The drones can precisely ascertain the direction and distance to the source of a specific frequency. The following recording shows tests of a Russian anti-jammer drone.
This uses the same concept as anti-radiation missiles like AGM-88 HARM or HOJ modules for GBU-39 SDB bombs. Each jammer must emit radio waves at a specific frequency, which allows for identifying its position, similar to how radars are detected.
This means that once a key anti-drone tool, jammers, can become vulnerable targets themselves, requiring protection. Over time, there will likely be a shift to placing transmission antennas several dozen or several hundred metres away from the rest of the equipment using cables, but this is not an ideal solution.
This will again allow for the broader use of inexpensive FPV drones controlled via radio communication, similar to the situation at the turn of 2022-2023.
