Ukrainian and Russian Anti-drone Systems

[yahya]

In the August 2024 battle in the Kursk region, Ukrainian forces apparently started to universally use anti-drone electronic warfare (EW) to counter Russian radio controlled (RC) kamikaze drones. A photo below from sm shows a Ukrainian BMP-1 with three EW antennas rendering such drones useless.



Apparently, as a remedy, Russian forces started to use indigenous home-made kamikaze drones controlled by a 10.8-km fiber optics cable, which offers HD video till the moment of impact. Photos of such a captured drone are below.







Does this mean that Russian RC drones, mostly the small ones, are particularly susceptible to EW due to commercial RC systems used instead of secure jam-resistant military grade radio channels?

 

[yahya]

Is seems that the Russians also use counter-FPV drone jammers:

Ukrainian Forces Capture russian Volnorez EW System in Kursk Region, Unveil Key Specs | Defense Express

Ukrainian military captures russian electronic warfare system designed to shield tanks from drone strikes

en.defence-ua.com

Will russia's New Volnorez X EW For Helicopters Solve the FPV Drone Problem | Defense Express

russian engineers adapted the Volnorez jammer to integrate with helicopters

en.defence-ua.com

 

[yahya]

Ukrainian Wild Hornets company makes drones but also counter-drone detector and jammer. The lid lists the known frequencies of Russian UAVs.

 

[yahya]

More pictures of Russian fiber-optic controlled drone:

FPV Drones on Fiber-Optic Cables are Tested on Battlefield by russians: Such UAVs Fear No Jammer | Defense Express

A drone controlled via a fiber optic cable is completely insusceptible to EW interference although it does come with a number of drawbacks

en.defence-ua.com

 

[yahya]

It seems that Russian forces also employed anti-FPV drone jammers like the Volnorez which operates from 390 to 510 MHz and from 750 to 1050 MHz. Wonder only why it does not cover the popular 2.4 GHz ISM band.

Exclusive: Secret Russian Volnorez Anti-Drone Electronic Warfare System Discovered By Ukrainian Troops

Exclusive: Secret Russian Volnorez Anti-Drone Electronic Warfare System Discovered By Ukrainian Troops

www.armyrecognition.com

Ukraine seizes Russian Volnorez anti-drone EW system with docs in Kursk Oblast - Euromaidan Press

Ukrainian military forces have captured a Russian Volnorez anti-drone electronic warfare system in Kursk oblast, including documentation.

euromaidanpress.com

Secret Russian Counter-Drone EW System Recovered by Ukraine in Kursk Region

An Aug. 14 Facebook post shows the discovery of an unused Volnorez complex still in its packaging and complete with all technical documentation.

www.kyivpost.com

 

[yahya]

Ukrainian company Kvertus makes numerous anti-drone jammers, which cover various control frequencies.

Квертус — український виробник засобів РЕБ та РЕР

Kvertus розробляє та виробляє засоби радіоелектронної боротьби (РЕБ) та розвідки, а також іншого обладнання яке забезпечує чудову ситуаційну обізнаність та безпеку.

kvertus.ua

 

[yahya]

It transpires that the Russian fiber-optic controlled FPV kamikaze drone, which is immune to jamming, is called Prince Vandal of Novgorod. It was developed by the ANO NPC "Ushkuinik" of Nizhny Novgorod, and was introduced during the fighting in the Kursk region. Compared to the radio-controlled drones with the analog or digital video links, it offers a relatively good to very quality of the FPV video till the moment of impact.

A Vandal attacking an M113:


And another vehicle:


Details available from here:

Focus: Emergence of a New family of FPV Drones

Focus: Emergence of a New family of FPV Drones

www.armyrecognition.com

https://en.topwar.ru/248220-territorialnaja-oborona-fpv-dron-upravljaemyj-studentom-mozhet-ubivat-jeffektivnee-chem-avtomat-v-rukah-veterana-boevyh-dejstvij.html

https://en.topwar.ru/248112-na-kurskom-napravlenii-vpervye-primenen-fpv-dron-knjaz-vandal-novgorodskij-s-upravleniem-po-volokonno-opticheskomu-kabelju.html

 

[timmymagic]

Ukrainian Wild Hornets company makes drones but also counter-drone detector and jammer. The lid lists the known frequencies of Russian UAVs.

On the left hand side it lists CH-3A and CH-4B....Chinese UCAV's....

Which Russia doesn't use....

Is this also for use by Ukrainian units in Africa where they might encounter CH-3A and CH-4B? I'm not sure any operate where Ukrainian SOF have been alleged to operate....

The other UAV's/UCAV's listed are Russian (or Russian/Israeli with the Forpost) or Iranian so understandable...

Thoughts?

 

[timmymagic]

It seems that Russian forces also employed anti-FPV drone jammers like the Volnorez which operates from 390 to 510 MHz and from 750 to 1050 MHz. Wonder only why it does not cover the popular 2.4 GHz ISM band.

Think Volnorez has been recovered by Ukrainian forces on many occasions already, over the last 6 months.

 

[yahya]

On the left hand side it lists CH-3A and CH-4B....Chinese UCAV's....

Which Russia doesn't use....

Is this also for use by Ukrainian units in Africa where they might encounter CH-3A and CH-4B? I'm not sure any operate where Ukrainian SOF have been alleged to operate....

The other UAV's/UCAV's listed are Russian (or Russian/Israeli with the Forpost) or Iranian so understandable...

Thoughts?

Perhaps a good marketing strategy as the olive cabinet and lid are 3D printed. The SA6 spectrum analyzer is a COTS product. That makes it actually very universal. Tech details are here:

6 GHz Spectrum Analyzer & Signal Generator - Test Your Radio Components Now! SA6

Here we take a look at the SA6, a 6GHz Spectrum Analyzer and signal generator. We cover what you get in the box and how to use it, measuring filters, attenuators and spurious emissions from radio transmitters. Purchase links below:…

hamradiotube.com

HamGeek SA6 6GHz Spectrum Analyzer Signal Generator Suitable for Wi-Fi

Description:HamGeek SA6 is a simple portable spectrum analyzer and signal source designed to display the signal spectrum from 35 to 6200 MHz. The analyzer finds the amplitude and frequency of the spectral components of the analyzed process. The spectrum analyzer can process signals from all...

www.hgeek.com

SA6 Spectrum Analyzer/VNA vs. LiteVNA 64 - Page 1

SA6 Spectrum Analyzer/VNA vs. LiteVNA 64 - Page 1

www.eevblog.com

 

[yahya]

Think Volnorez has been recovered by Ukrainian forces on many occasions already, over the last 6 months.

Do you have idea why the Volnorez does not cover the 2.4 and 5.7 GHz ISM bands, which are used by COTS drones, eg. made by DJI, Autel, Iflight, etc.?

 

[timmymagic]

Do you have idea why the Volnorez does not cover the 2.4 and 5.7 GHz ISM bands, which are used by COTS drones, eg. made by DJI, Autel, Iflight, etc.?

No idea. Perhaps they focused in on FPV as the main threat for the type of platforms that are carrying it.

 

[yahya]

A Ukrainian Sania anti-FPV drone jammer on a Marder 1A3:



Perhaps it was based on the COTS parts from Tatusky (https://tatusky.com/).

 

[yahya]

The EW system used on the Ukrainian BMP-1 from the first post was apparently called Metinvest Dome-EW. It was likely made by another subcontractor, not by Metinvest itself. Tech specs of this system are currently not known.

Sources:

https://metinvest.media/en/page/metnvest-peredav-3-y-shturmovy-brigad-zsu-sistemi-reb-na-11-mln-grn

https://steelfront.scm.com.ua/en/novuny-1/04-04-2024-stalevuy-front-akhmetova-peredav-zasobu-reb

 

[yahya]

Meet the radio-obsessed civilian shaping Ukraine’s drone defense

Since Russia’s invasion, Serhii “Flash” Beskrestnov has become an influential, if sometimes controversial, force—sharing expert advice and intel on the ever-evolving technology that’s taken over the skies. His work may determine the future of Ukraine, and wars far beyond it.

www.technologyreview.com

 

[yahya]

Another type of a Russian fiber-optic controlled FPV drone that crashed in UA. The method of bringing it down remains unknown.

 

[GTX]

Another type of a Russian fiber-optic controlled FPV drone that crashed in UA. The method of bringing it down remains unknown.

Then how is this post relevant to this thread??

 

[yahya]

An FPV fiber-optic drone overriding ECM and attacking an M113:

Военный Осведомитель

Встреча украинской M113 с FPV-дроном на оптоволокне в Курской области. Только ВСУ научились ставить козырьки сверху, а пора уже делать их спереди. Военный Осведомитель

t.me

And here: another vehicle:

Cyberspec News

New footage from Toretsk. Russian operators of FPV drones with fiber optic control are working.

t.me

 

[Dilandu]

An FPV fiber-optic drone overriding ECM and attacking an M113:

Technology marching on...

 

[Antonio]

An FPV fiber-optic drone overriding ECM and attacking an M113:

The tittle of the thread is "Ukr anti drone systems" while your post is about "Russian ECM refractive drone tech".

Why not opening a dedicated thread about "Russo-Ukr war drone warfare" and keep all that posts related to that particular context instead of creating disorganisation in other, most general and technologically focused on drones themselves.?

 

[yahya]

Antonio, gracias por la idea. However, I do not feel competent nor I have enough time to compile the material on the drone warfare in the Russo-Ukraine war. It's simply too broad. The Rinat Akhmetov Steel Front's Metinvest Dome mobile ECM sets from the photo from the first post stuck my attention. And in the same time it came out that the other side has an effective remedy to such ECM, which simply overrides it. I can only add "Russian" to the title of the thread.

Anyway, other threads on the drones on the forum lack technical information, especially related to the radio and communication means. Hence, this thread must remain in the Electronics section of the forum.