Russia’s unbeatable combination of electronic warfare and air defence

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Below is our translation of an article from Izvestia on the formidable combination of Russia’s now-famous air defences S-300 and S-400 with Russian electronic warfare systems, the best by far in the world. So good that Special Operations chief General Raymond Thomas recently admitted that his EC-130 gunships, used for recon in Syria, are being disabled by “most aggressive EW environment on the planet.” But let’s not cry for General Raymond. His forces are in Syria illegally while Russia is there at the invitation of the Syrian people.
 
Regarding the below-referenced interference with GPS signals, Norway and Finland both reported loss of GPD signals during NATO drills. Although Russia denied causing this loss, the text below shows that the Russians indeed have this capability.

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Air defence will blind the enemy with electromagnetic interference
 
Air defence will strengthen the systems of electronic warfare
 
August 21, 2018
 
Alexander Kruglov Aleksey Ramm
 
Air Defence Arms
 
The Ministry of Defence plans to strengthen the air defence divisions (air defence) with electronic warfare (EW) systems. The armaments of such units will be so-called EW-anti-aircraft complexes. These highly mobile stations can interfere with the radar and communications systems of aircraft. As shown by drills and combat service in Syria, the combination of air defence and EW will provide effective protection against high-tech means of air attack.
 
According to Izvestia, the Ministry of Defence is working on the problem of incorporating EW battalions in air defence divisions. The latter will be equipped with three EW mobile complexes - “Moskva”, “Krasukha-2” and “Krasukha-4.” In the future, these battalions will be equipped with the most advanced means of electronic warfare - the Divnomorye mobile system.
 
This decision was made as a result of the joint work of the Central Research Institute of the Aerospace Defence Forces and the Research Institute on Electronic Warfare. The study showed a twofold increase in the effectiveness of air defence and missile defences when working with ground-based EW facilities. The findings of scientists were confirmed in the field in Syria.
 
Modern mobile EW systems effectively counteract airborne and ground-based detection systems. They are able to inflict powerful interference with the equipment of cruise missiles, UAVs and radars of aircraft that carry out guidance. Disoriented cruise missiles and drones become become targets for air defence systems.
 
The new EW battalions will be able to cover a section of several hundred kilometers with interference. They will create an impenetrable curtain for the technical intelligence systems of a potential enemy and will make use of aerospace attack vehicles as difficult as possible. This also applies to precision weapons.
 
Such battalions will engage to cover command posts, groups of troops, air defence systems, important industrial and administrative facilities.
 
Strengthening air defence units using electronic warfare is the right decision based on Soviet experience, former head of the Russian anti-aircraft missile forces Lieutenant-General Alexander Gorkov told Izvestia.
 
“In the Soviet army there were EW battalions that were part of air defence corps and divisions,” he said. They were supposed to suppress the airborne radar stations of the aircraft and the channels of radio altimeters of cruise missiles. These units have proven their effectiveness. When the EW equipment was in operation, it was difficult to fly the planes, and the missiles went astray. Cruise missiles have areas where they adjust their location during the flight. Having come under the influence of the EW jammers, they rose much higher than the usual 50-meter altitude. When that happened, the missiles became easy targets for air defence systems.
 
 
The reform takes into account the combat experience gained in Syria. In particular, the attack of two UAVs on Khmeimim airfield in April of this year was seriously studied. At that time, the drones were intercepted by cooperation of the EW and air defence systems. After detecting targets, the EW complex drowned out the GPS signal in the area of ​​the airfield, disabling the navigation and control system of the UAVs. Both drones immediately strayed off the course and began to circle erratically, becoming excellent targets for the air defence battery. As a result, they were destroyed by fire from the automatic guns of the Pantsir anti-aircraft cannon-missile system.  Examination of the wreckage of the drones showed that they were armed with improvised suspended bombs.
 
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