Russian forces have begun using a new generation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in response to the Ukrainian offensive in the Kursk region, Forbes reports. This weaponry was a reaction to the successful actions of Ukrainian troops, who, thanks to the effective use of electronic warfare, were able to blind Russian reconnaissance drones and destroy enemy FPV drones.
These new drones are resistant to radio interference, making them the first time such a weapon has been used in a combat environment. It's also a reminder of how quickly small drones are evolving and a warning to the rest of the world, which relies heavily on signal jamming to defend against FPV drone attacks.
FPV drones usually require radio communication with the operator. Through this connection, the video signal from the drone and command signals are transmitted through another channel. Losing any of these signals usually results in an instant crash.
This is why various jammers, such as trench jammers, suitcase jammers, or car jammers, are often used on the front lines to create radio interference at certain frequencies. If the jammers are effective, they create a protective space that usually prevents FPV drones from getting close. Experienced FPV operators can approach at an angle so that their drone flies through this space due to the force of the momentum.
Drones are constantly changing their operating frequencies and jammers are constantly being updated to stop them in an endless game of cat and mouse. To temporarily stop all drones would require a blitzkrieg like the one in Kursk, with a long preparation period to identify all the frequencies being used and enough jamming to jam everything in a certain area.
Drones can lose contact for other reasons as well. Radio communication, in fact, requires direct visibility. This is fine when the drone is far from the ground, but as soon as it descends, the connection starts to drop. Flying repeaters help, but the FPV has to dive low during the final attack, and at the last second, there is often interference in the video signal, which impairs the view at a critical moment.
One of the solutions to the problem of interference and communication is terminal guidance using artificial intelligence: the operator fixes the target at a certain distance, and the drone pursues it even when communication is lost. Such systems are already being implemented in limited quantities by both sides.
