Russia recently launched an anti-jamming communication device called "Hermes" and named "Magic Radio", claiming that the device can effectively protect drones from UAV signal jammers. This technology quickly attracted the attention of the military analysis community, and an independent assessment by physicist Daniel R revealed the truth behind the device: it is an anti drone jammer device cleverly combined with off-the-shelf consumer electronics to deal with electronic countermeasures in modern warfare.

Main features of Hermes and reasons for its popularity in the market

  1. Low-cost design: Hermes uses a 3D printed shell and a low-cost STM32 microcontroller, which reduces production costs and makes its price only about $140, which is cost-effective.
  2. Clever application of off-the-shelf materials: Hermes core components such as the RAK3172 (H) wireless module come from foreign suppliers, especially China's RAKwireless, which is widely used in IoT devices due to its low power consumption and long-distance transmission characteristics. The cost is only $5.99, further reducing the overall manufacturing cost.
  3. Competitiveness in the military market: Despite being labeled "Made in Russia," Hermes devices maintain a relatively low price, especially in the military electronics market, meeting the demand for low-cost, high-efficiency performance.

Magic Radio UAV jammer

Application of LoRa technology in Hermes

  • The LoRa (long-range) wireless communication technology used by Hermes was designed by electronics giant Semtech in 2014 to meet the needs of low-power wide-area networks.
  • LoRa technology not only has low power consumption, but can communicate up to 3 miles in urban environments and 5 miles or more in open areas. DanielR pointed out that the flexibility of the technology makes it ideal for FPV manufacturers.
  • To extend the communication range, many drone operators also use repeaters, which further enhances the application potential of LoRa technology. The "magic antenna" of the Hermes device uses a half-wave dipole antenna design.
  • DanielR estimates that its operating frequency is about 930MHz. This antenna is equipped with a balancer and a surface acoustic wave filter, which can significantly improve the performance of the signal.

Militarization of consumer technology

　　DanielR believes that the emergence of Hermes shows how consumer electronics technology can be transformed for military use. Off-the-shelf electronics were effectively used for anti-jamming and drone operations, showing the widespread availability of technology in modern warfare. "Military experts seem to have not noticed the actual utility of these systems," DanielR said. "Powerful technology affects everyone, especially in a war environment."

The importance of signal jammer devices and counter-jamming in electronic warfare

　　Electronic warfare is essentially a game of "cat and mouse", where one side tries to weaken the enemy's capabilities by jamming communications with drone signal jammers, while the other side looks for countermeasures to avoid interference. DanielR analyzed that although Russia UAV jammers gained a certain advantage on the battlefield in early 2023, Ukraine's technology soon effectively countered it. Any advantage in electronic warfare is often temporary, and technological advances and countermeasures will lead to repeated battles.

　　Finally, Withington emphasized that helping Ukraine strengthen its electronic warfare equipment, especially electronic attack systems, is key to countering Russian drones and strengthening ground forces. This capability is relatively cheap and effective, so the support of the EU and the United States in providing electronic warfare equipment is particularly important.

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　　The emergence of Magic Radio Hermes not only shows the importance of technology in modern warfare, but also reveals the battle of wits and courage between the two sides in electronic warfare. As the war continues, the continuous advancement and iteration of technology on both sides will have a profound impact on the war situation, reflecting the decisive role of science and technology in contemporary warfare.