Swarm of American drones to be destroyed by Russian „fly-trap“

Ministry of defence of Russian federation has recently done large-scale drills of air defence forces on the country´s south part. There were more than 2000 people involved, together with all equipment of air-defence forces, starting from “IGLA” up to S-300V4. “The peculiarity of those field drills of air-defence forces was focus on shooting at small aerial targets, imitating UAV´s of the enemy”, specifies the press service of Ministry of defence of Russian federation. Many nations already use UAV´s in the wars and conflicts around the world, on the same level as regular aviation. But never before has UAV´s encountered modern systems of air defence. What is the readiness level of Russian armed forces to face this threat and which UAV´s of presumed enemy represent the biggest threat?

Easy target

So, currently, the most widespread UAV´s in the massmedia and movie industry are American RQ-4 Golbal Hawk and striking MQ-9 Reaper. Those UAV´s are able to loiter in the air for several days and work thousand kilometres away from its operator. MQ-9 and its predecessors MQ-1 Predator were actively used by USA in Afghanistan and Iraq, where they carry out strikes with precision-guided rockets on the concentrations of terrorists. There are hundreds of such systems with thousands of UAV´s in the arsenal of USA. The military leadership of USA has never hidden the fact, that in future conflicts it will use its UAV´s as a main striking force. Pros of such weapon is obvious: 1. UAV´s are easier and cheaper to produce, compared with modern jet or fighter-bomber. 2. The operator is thousand miles away from the battlefield and controls the movement of the UAV with movement of the joystick. 3. Training and preparation of such “operator” is much cheaper, than training of real fighter-pilot. But the UAV´s have their shortcomings as well.

“Usage of such UAV´s against us in the case of hypothetical conflict would mean throwing such expensive equipment into dustbin”, military expert Mikhail Kholarenok said. “S-300 and S-400 air defence systems are designed to destroy all classes of aerial targets, and the UAV´s don´t represent any significant threat for them”. The very same Global Hawks and Reaper have significant radar reflection area, which enables radars to lock on, track and attack them from safe distance. Their low speed and absence of any means of electronic countermeasures for self-defence make them easy prey for the rocket of air defence system. And smaller targets will be handled by air-defence systems of small radius – “TOR”, “PANTSIR” and portable air defence systems”

Dangerous mosquito

According Mikhail Kholarenko, much bigger threat for Russian air defence systems is presented by piloted aircraft, which do fly faster, can manoeuvre, and are better armed, capable of operating under conditions of active electronical jamming. However, UAV´s are constantly upgraded, and in future they will represent bigger threat for any air defence.

“The Americans have been long and successfully working on the concept of “UAV swarm”, said Leonid IVASHOV, president of Russian academy of geopolitical matters. “It assumes massive usage of low-observable UAV´s of different configuration and class. They will carry out reconnaissance and airstrikes on narrow sections of the frontline. Gradually, the US leadership plans to make this concept into its main striking force. Even the most modern air defence system will have difficulties to cope with it.”

The latest announcement about trials of the “UAV swarm” have been done by US newspaper The National Interest, in October 2016. The author of the article quotes report of William ROPER, head of Pentagon´s strategic capabilities office, to the then US minister of defence Ashton CARTER. ROPER has said, that the defence industry has managed to create small reconnaissance UAV “PERDIX”, which is the size of a crow, and whose fuselage is made by 3D print. That means that he is inexpensive – main feature for future mass production. “The are designed for single use and can be used as a means of reconnaissance. You can have multitude of such mini UAV´s, depending on the scale of strategic task you need to fulfil”, said ROPER. “Multitude of UAV´s will create many advantages, when facing enemy. Potential adversary will need to pour substantial resources for creating more effective defence against such UAV swarms. Such swarms should be deployed from F-16 and F/A-18 fighter. Wiliam ROPER has emphasized, that PERDIX is only one of many variants of UAV, developed under “UAV swarm” programme. Future developments should see armed variants. Something similar was recently used by ISIS in IRAQ. They utilize commercial drones available from internet, and arm them with hand-grenades or makeshift explosives in plastic body. Such drone hovers above the target and releases its load directly on the top of its victim. It´s obvious, that it can´t destroy a tank, but such device can cause significant damage to HUMMER armoured car. Now imagine, there is abundance of such drones above the target, their combat load is bigger, accuracy higher,

"This is a very dangerous weapon for a number of reasons," said Mikhail Khodarenok. "First, mini-drones have a small reflecting surface, and secondly, they will be able to fly with large overloads at extremely low altitudes. To beat the rockets with a swarm is like shooting a cannon at a pack of sparrows. "

Interception of control

In mid-March, the head of the US Army Training Command David Perkins at a local symposium gave an example of an unsuccessful fight with drones. He told the audience that one of the Pentagon's military allies used a $ 3.4 million anti-aircraft missile Patriot to destroy a $200 worth drone. He stressed that in order to combat small threats, a more economical means is needed.

"The most effective weapon against drones, both large and small, can only be modern electronic warfare systems," said Mikhail Khodarenok. "The main issue is not to shoot down the UAVs, but to destroy the communication channel with the operator, or at least greatly complicate the navigation of the vehicle."

Such systems are in the arsenal of the Russian troops of electronic warfare. These include, for example, the family of REB "Krasukha" complexes. They are capable of suppressing spy satellites, ground-based and air-based radars (AWACS), as well as violating or intercepting the control of the enemy's UAVs.

The technical characteristics of these complexes are classified, but it is claimed that Krasuha-4 can effectively operate at ranges of up to 300 kilometers. This greatly exceeds the range of Hellfire missiles - the main armament of American drone UAVs. A swarm of mini-drones that fall within the range of "Krasuha", with a high probability of failure in full force. If the powerful drones Reaper and Global Hawk are not equipped with radio-electronic protection systems, then what about their more miniature "brethren"?

American UAVs already happened to encounter modern electronic warfare systems in practice. The Iranian military on December 4, 2011 managed to "take away" the most advanced stealth UAV from the US Armed Forces RQ-170 Sentinel and put it on one of its airbases. On December 9, he was shown on national television without any visible damage. How it was possible to intercept the control is not reported, but experts believe that this is the work of a modern complex of REB delivered to Iran either by Russia or by China.

And on March 12, 2017, the head of the state corporation Rostek, Sergei Chemezov, said that Russia had created systems capable of physically destroying the on-board equipment of unmanned vehicles.

Concern "Radioelectronic Technologies" has created a system of electronic warfare, by means of which the management of drones is rendered useless," Chemezov explained. "The on-board radio electronic equipment burns and the drone actually becomes a piece of metal."

Technical details of the new system are strictly classified today.