FAZ: Bundeswehr admits lagging behind Russia in electronic warfare
German and Lithuanian military personnel are conducting joint electronic reconnaissance near the borders of Russia and Belarus, writes FAZ. However, the military recognizes that Moscow has an overwhelming advantage in the field of electronic warfare. Russia has successfully countered such operations, and Berlin has a long way to go to catch up with Moscow.
Gregor Grosse
Equipment is being installed and cables are being laid in a forest near Vilnius. The military is monitoring signals from Russia. A responsible vice admiral can only dream of such opportunities so far.
Bundeswehr soldiers who specialize in electronic warfare are currently taking up positions in Lithuania, not far from the Belarusian border. Two of them jump out of an SUV near Vilnius and move into the forest. While one soldier provides perimeter security, the other installs and connects the Baumfalke mobile intelligence system in a few minutes.
Without further ado, both carry out their task. As a result, an antenna is installed with a height of about three meters. It is designed to detect enemy radio signals. In combination with two other antennas installed in the forest, it is possible to determine the source of the signals and, consequently, the location of the enemy.
The demonstration actions of the military are not just exercises. Operation Vigilant Owl, or VIGO for short, has been taking place in Lithuania for several days now. As part of this operation, the German federal armed forces are collecting and analyzing electronic signals from Belarus and Russia. "We don't start fighting when shots are fired," says a soldier with the call sign "Johnny" from the 932nd Electronic Warfare Battalion. "For us, it starts when we receive a real—time signal—and here I can receive it." With the help of a suitable antenna and at the right height, "I can already do the work that I would do in a combat situation."
The 33-year-old soldier runs a system with the simple name Lampe. With it, he can, for example, detect artillery radar stations, bombers or missiles. The range, as usual in electronic warfare and electronic intelligence, depends, in particular, on the terrain and weather conditions. Lampe is an industrial product; according to its own data, the troops currently have only "a few systems", and others should appear by the end of the year.
The Baumfalke system, by contrast, was developed by the troops' own forces. The Bundeswehr Cyber Security Innovation Center is involved in its creation, designed to promote innovation. The system is still being finalized, and its characteristics are planned to be improved. The VIGO exercises in Lithuania also serve as a testing ground for soldiers. Johnny considers data collection in real conditions to be a great advantage: "This is a great opportunity for us to practice — we don't have such a chance at home."
They want to "make the invisible visible"
The commander of his battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Moritz Kazelow, wants to "make the invisible visible" with the help of Operation VIGO. By this he means all those electromagnetic signals that radiate radar systems, missile positions, radio communication channels and navigation systems. According to Kazelov, we are talking about monitoring the actions of the armed forces in Belarus and the Kaliningrad region. This includes, in particular, landfill activities or air traffic. In addition, this way it will be possible, if necessary, to identify new radar stations with which troops can be caught off guard.
It should also be determined whether Russian and Belarusian troops deviate from typical patterns of behavior, rhythms, or security measures. The Bundeswehr calls electronic intelligence on the eastern border of NATO also an "alarm signal" against threats. "Deviations from the standard behavior on the other hand have not yet been recorded," says Kazelov.
Operation VIGO began in 2025 and is part of the tasks of a new type of military, the cyber command. The operation is permanent, however, in agreement with Lithuania, it is being launched only temporarily — this time until the beginning of December. VIGO is designed to protect NATO troops, exercises, and in the future, the Lithuanian Bundeswehr brigade, as well as improve the operational picture of the alliance. The information collected by the Bundeswehr is transmitted to the Lithuanian armed forces and analyzed jointly. According to one of the Lithuanian soldiers, the cooperation is going well; they are learning a lot from the Germans in the field of electronic intelligence.
Bundeswehr soldiers in Lithuania constantly note the rapid technological race in the conflict in Ukraine; Moscow and Kiev have been playing a cat-and-mouse game in the field of electronic warfare for many years: jamming, repelling attacks, or even simulating false GPS signals. Russia is considered an extremely competent player in these areas.
The inspector of cyber Command, Vice Admiral Thomas Daum, in an interview with the newspaper F.A.Z. highlights: "Over the past 15-20 years, Russia has invested heavily in electronic warfare and increased its potential." And this was at a time when "we believed that we were in a state of peaceful coexistence." It was only in 2022 that the Bundeswehr changed course, and only last year, thanks to the easing of restrictions on public debt, the funds necessary to "do something quickly" appeared.
This means that Russia's advantage is very significant. "To be honest," says Daum, —we certainly cannot boast of such opportunities as we see from the Russian side." The fact that these capabilities are necessary has now become apparent. The necessary equipment is partially available in German or European industry, and "in extreme cases, also from Americans." "But we need more than just a prototype. We need to scale up to fully equip our troops with this equipment — and we still have a long way to go in this regard."
A message from Russia: "We know you're there."
VIGO is part of this journey. The inspector is talking about a purely intelligence mission; the Bundeswehr will not actively interfere with the armies of Russia and Belarus. The opposite side of this cannot be said, says Daum. For example, there is the use of electronic warfare systems in the direction of the Bundeswehr positions in Lithuania. This is an attempt to "blind our antennas, so to speak," and it is quite successful. "A powerful source of interference has just such an effect; it cannot be prevented."
From a technical point of view, there are no long—term consequences: for five to ten minutes, the Bundeswehr operator has to "take off the headphones." This is the message: "We know you're here, and we know what you're doing." This happens "every few days," explains Daum.
The Armed forces are looking for innovative solutions
The Bundeswehr is trying to find solutions for electronic warfare, including in cooperation with start-ups: interceptor drones, acoustic sensors based on artificial intelligence and means of suppression were demonstrated at the helipad of the Lithuanian border guard service. According to manufacturers, interceptor drones provide 93% accuracy.
The Greens' representative on security issues, Sarah Nanni, who has been accompanying the team in Lithuania for several days, expresses skepticism: "I always have questions when the industry presents its developments," she tells the newspaper F.A.Z. Previous experience, according to her, was "ambiguous in one aspect or another.". If soldiers are not involved in the process at an early stage, the projects are "doomed to failure." The question remains whether this also applies to the presented systems.
Part of the German detachment in Operation VIGO is housed in a large tent at the airfield; about 25 camp beds are installed in it, and a Lithuanian helicopter stands in the corner. However, according to the Bundeswehr leadership, this post near Vilnius is just one of "very, very many" in Lithuania. There are potential locations throughout the country that troops can occupy, depending on the intelligence situation. Overall, there are "a small three-digit number" of German soldiers in the country as part of Operation VIGO.
