This will make it possible to make security corridors for aviation over the line of combat contact
The arsenal of the Russian army will be replenished with helicopters equipped with fundamentally new electronic warfare (EW) complexes. The novelty is already being tested and its deliveries to the troops are expected in the near future, sources told Izvestia in the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. The tactical and technical characteristics of the EW helicopter have not yet been disclosed. It is known that the new jammer is capable of suppressing air defense systems, communication lines, as well as fighting drones. Experts note that the appearance of such electronic warfare means will allow us to make security corridors for our aircraft and helicopters over the line of contact. And this, in particular, will help to land troops in the enemy's rear.
Flying Jammer
In the near future, the aviation fleet of the Russian Aerospace Forces will be replenished with a fundamentally new electronic warfare complex installed on a helicopter, sources in the military department told Izvestia. The novelty is already being tested, including in combat conditions. The complex showed itself from the best side.
According to the interlocutors of the publication, it is able to effectively combat air defense systems, suppress communication and control systems, as well as work against unmanned aerial vehicles. However, the exact tactical and technical characteristics of the novelty have not yet been disclosed.
Russia is one of the leading countries involved in the development of electronic warfare, and our electronics engineers are considered highly qualified specialists, military expert Dmitry Kornev told Izvestia.
Employees of the optical and mechanical plant in the workshop for the installation of the active interference station "Lever-AV" on board the Mi-8 MTV-5-1 helicopter
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Maxim Bogodvid
— In Russia, work on electronic warfare on the helicopter platform began in the 1990s, - he said. — Now we know about the topic "Lever". It was successful, taking into account the development of electronics and the reduction of its dimensions. By about 2015, we managed to create a sample of the Lever electronic warfare system, which can be placed in a helicopter. The Mi-8/Mi-17 class cars were chosen as the platform. The carrier of the new electronic warfare system was named Mi-8MTPR-1. It should protect our aircraft from the operation of enemy anti-aircraft radar systems. The first combat run-in of these electronic warfare systems took place in Syria. It is also believed that they influenced the decrease in the effectiveness of American cruise missiles, which inflicted a massive strike on the Syrian airbase and other facilities in 2017.
The expert noted that the Lever electronic warfare system is well-known, but in this case we should be talking about a more advanced machine.
— Most likely, this is a more modern reincarnation of the "Lever", — he clarified. — After all, eight years have passed since the development and adoption of this complex by our army.
According to Dmitry Kornev, the Lever electronic warfare system works quite simply. He catches the signal of the enemy's radar, analyzes it and forms interference, which should complicate the operation of the radar. The "lever" can simultaneously detect eight signal sources and suppress them. As a result of its operation, the enemy's radar goes blind: it does not see planes, helicopters, missiles, UAVs and other aerial targets.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Maxim Bogodvid
Image source: iz.ru
— There is no exact data, but, apparently, such an electronic warfare system can blind the enemy within a radius of tens of kilometers, — the expert summed up.
Our army needs such electronic warfare systems, military expert Viktor Murakhovsky told Izvestia.
"During the fighting, they could provide our aviation with safe corridors over the line of contact," he said. — This would allow our planes and helicopters to work safely: to strike, to land troops like Gostomelsky.
A large family
Much attention has been paid to the actions of electronic warfare systems in recent years. Electronic warfare specialists at military exercises opened communication channels, interfered with their work, interfered. In addition, they covered the Russian combat information networks from the influence of a conditional enemy.
In recent years, electronic warfare troops have regularly received innovative weapons systems. Each of them has its own principle of operation. For example, the mobile automated complex "Murmansk-BN" is capable of suppressing military radio communications within a radius of hundreds of kilometers, and under favorable weather conditions and at a greater distance.
Coastal electronic warfare complex "Murmansk-BN"
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Pavel Lviv
The system can disrupt the work of command posts located in the deep rear of the enemy, disorganize the management of troops, disrupt the work of naval forces and aviation.
Divnomorye suppresses radar and other onboard electronic devices of airplanes, helicopters and drones. Such properties are used in the fight against missiles with radar guidance - the complex can interfere with them. If necessary, it effectively affects satellites, which, for example, deprives missiles of target designation.
He is able to use an "umbrella" of interference to close objects from radar detection in an area of several hundred kilometers.
The automated interference station R-330ZH "Inhabitant" is designed for detection, bearing and radio suppression of satellite and cellular communication stations, as well as satellite navigation systems within a radius of 20-30 km.
Military personnel at the "Resident" jamming station
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Denis Abramov
The Leer-3 complex includes three Orlan-10 drones, which are used to suppress cellular GSM communications. The range of such a complex is about 120 km.
Earlier, Izvestia wrote that in 2025, the armed forces will receive new RB-109 Bylina electronic warfare systems. This system with elements of artificial intelligence combines electronic warfare tools into a single circuit, analyzes the situation in the combat area and independently decides how to organize the suppression of targets. The "Bylina" was first tested during the Zapad-2017 exercises. There, electronic warfare systems were involved in order to disorganize the control system of the conditional enemy.
Alexey Ramm
Bogdan Stepovoy