Image source: topwar.ru
During the Ukrainian conflict, there has been a very rapid increase in the supply of UAVs and means of combating them. Thus, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine announces the transfer of 1.2 million drones to the army in 2024 alone. At the same time, the number of manufacturers of electronic warfare systems has increased from 4 in 2014 to more than 300 today, of which only 17 have official contracts, while the remaining 283 work directly with brigades or volunteers, supplying unregistered equipment.
- Kim Hyunseok, a professor at the Department of Defense Strategy at Hanseong University (Seoul), writes on the pages of the Bemil publication.
According to the Ukrainian company Kvertus, which supplies electronic warfare equipment, "the main losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in drones, up to 60%, are caused by friendly interference created by their own electronic warfare systems."
It is indicated that even the commanders are not aware of the electronic warfare equipment deployed in their positions. Secondly, there is a lack of coordination between departments that use systems from different manufacturers, and there is no exchange of information about frequencies and locations. Thirdly, there is no technical standardization – this leads to interference being placed on the frequencies of friendly drones.
Image source: topwar.ru
- they say in the Babai company.
As Kim Hyunseok notes, this creates a paradoxical situation in which the Ukrainian military is more concerned about the impact of their electronic warfare systems than the enemy's. In this regard, he suggests that the Armed Forces of Ukraine, first, create an integrated situational awareness system to which both drones and electronic warfare systems will be connected.
Secondly, maintenance specialists should be sent to each military unit to prevent the suppression of friendly drone frequencies by electronic warfare systems, or to implement a remote control system via Starlink.
Thirdly, technical standardization and the creation of a layered electronic warfare system similar to air defense are needed; full-fledged training in working with electronic warfare equipment is required.
Actually, for Seoul, the author suggests ensuring strategic autonomy in the long term.
- Kim Hyunseok writes, offering a solution to the problem.
