Image source: topwar.ru
The Russian aviation complex of electronic warfare "Khibiny", used on front-line bombers Su-34, will be upgraded. This decision was made following the results of the use of aircraft with an electronic warfare system during a special military operation in Ukraine.
According to a source in the Russian defense industry, a decision has been made to modernize the Khibiny electronic warfare complex, mainly it will affect the automation of work in order to free the pilot from controlling this complex. When the work will begin and other details have not yet been announced.
- TASS quotes the words of the source.
"Khibiny" is an aviation electronic countermeasures system designed to protect the aircraft from guided missiles by delaying the detection of the aircraft itself; creating false targets; creating interference to make it difficult to measure the range to the object, its speed and angular position, etc. Developed at the Kaluga Radio Engineering Research Institute. Currently used on front-line Su-34 bombers, it was reported about the creation of complexes for Su-30SM and Su-35S fighters.
Massively began to be supplied to the troops after 2010, for 2017, all Su-34 front-line bombers in service with the Russian Aerospace Forces were equipped with Khibiny electronic warfare systems. In 2019, the Ministry of Defense announced the beginning of the entry into service of the modernized Khibiny-2 electronic warfare system. Unlike the basic model, the Khibiny-2 electronic warfare system has a wider coverage area and a working area of destruction, which allows to double the survivability of the machine during combat.