An important tool on the front lines
On May 23, 2024, in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, 42-year-old Ukrainian soldier Mykola demonstrated his drone signal jamming system. This device looks like a large white thermos, but it is an important protective shield for both sides on the battlefield. Mykola of the "Achilles" UAV Battalion of the 92nd Commando Brigade of Ukraine installed the antenna of the jamming system on an armored four-wheel drive vehicle on April 30, demonstrating its key role in the war.
Disruptor's battlefield role
Uav signal jammers have become an important weapon for the Ukrainian military in the past few months to suppress enemy drones. Since the Russian invasion, these devices have become indispensable to the Ukrainian military. Mikkola describes the signal blocker device as "like a bulletproof vest that adds a little bit more protection, a little bit more confidence, which increases the chance of survival." Weighing only 4 kilograms and able to fit into a backpack, these devices are among the first portable electronic protective equipment for Ukrainian infantry and are capable of protecting infantrymen from attacks by Russian FPV drones.
The threat of FPV drones
First-person view (FPV) quadcopter drones are small and relatively cheap, equipped with cameras to provide pilots with real-time images, and can carry explosives to directly strike enemy forces. Ukrainian ground forces commander Oleksandr Pavlyuk noted that drones currently kill more soldiers than any other weapon.
How military signal jammers work
To counter these threats, drone signal jammers emit jamming signals on the same frequency as the drone's control signal, cutting off the connection between the device and its pilot. Mikkola's device is effective within a 30-meter range and can cause an enemy FPV drone to completely lose control. The jammer, designed by a Ukrainian company and funded by private donations, has been in use on the battlefield since this winter.
Technical competition between the two sides
Both Ukraine and Russia are using jammers. Coyote, a 22-year-old Ukrainian drone pilot, said he lost up to 40% of his equipment due to enemy interference. Soldiers from the 28th Brigade emphasized that the most important thing in defending against jammers is experience. Knowing the operating frequency of the jammer can change the frequency of the drone or try to bypass the jammer.
Evolving tactics
Mikola pointed out that Russia has more than 30 years of experience in electronic warfare systems, while Ukraine has only started developing equipment in 2014. Currently, Ukraine is able to interfere with 60% to 70% of Russian FPV drones, but both parties need to continue to innovate and come up with new countermeasures every three months. A senior military officer who specializes in electronic warfare said this is a huge battle and everyone is looking for new ways to counter frequency and drone threats.
