Ukraine is actively working on the development of a wide range of electronic warfare (EW) tools aimed at ensuring technological superiority in the defense sphere. This becomes possible thanks to the development and implementation of the latest systems, which must be not only effective in various combat scenarios, but also convenient to use and meet modern technological standards.
So far, nine Ukrainian models of mobile EW devices have successfully passed the codification procedure at the Ministry of Defense, which confirms their readiness for mass production. In addition, there are a significant number of other developments that are in various stages of testing and approval.
For example, one of the options is an EW-backpack from the company "Quertus", which provides protection in the "non-standard" frequency range from 720 to 1050 MHz. This device allows the military to protect itself from enemy drones while on the move.
In addition, the Pluton complex from Infozakhist detects and eliminates the threat from enemy drones at a distance of several tens of kilometers, providing an important warning and automatically activating EW if necessary. This complex, although it is still undergoing the codification procedure, is already being mass-produced for military needs.
Such steps demonstrate not only the powerful potential of Ukrainian industry in the field of military technology, but also define new standards of effective defense and security at the front.
The newly created company "Obriy Miltek" decided to enter the niche segment and make its products available at an affordable price. Their dome electronic warfare (EW) device, designed to protect positions or vehicles, is offered for only 55 thousand hryvnias. "This is not the highest manifestation of craftsmanship, but this product can be produced quickly and in large quantities," said Vadym Chukhrai, a representative of the company.
This is only part of a wide range of Ukrainian developments - in total there are more than a hundred of them. For example, the Kvertus company offers as many as 22 different complexes for detecting and suppressing drones.
The majority of Ukrainian EW complexes consist of Chinese components, such as batteries, modules and amplifiers. This does not harm the quality of products, because Chinese electronics are in demand all over the world. However, dependence on China in the production of military equipment may become a problem for Ukraine.
"The further, the more important Chinese components fall into the list of export restrictions, so we strive for their localization. We are currently supporting a domestic company that is negotiating with a European corporation regarding the production of one of the electronic components for EW in Ukraine. Ukrainian manufacturers are making efforts to localize even the main Chinese component of REB - modules. There are plans to manufacture them in Ukraine using European microcircuits," Ihor Fedirko, a specialist advisor at the Ministry of Strategic Industries, said.
Manufacturers claim that they are already adapting new developments to work in non-standard ranges. The Ministry of Strategic Industries and the Brave1 cluster assure that the market is constantly in contact with the military on the front line and reacts to changes.
Now the main question is how quickly these developments will be able to get the first serial contracts.
Ukraine also produces large EW assets to counter enemy missiles, mines and reconnaissance drones that can intercept or alter the GPS signal, allowing it to derail an object.
Some of the latest developments, such as "Bukovel", "Nota" and "Pokrova", have become known to the general public, while others remain secret for now. Most of these developments take place in the private sector.
Despite its relative novelty, the mobile electronic warfare (EW) market is becoming extremely competitive, attracting many manufacturers and customers. EW products are purchased by charitable foundations, military structures, city authorities and even private companies.
"In 2022, 80% of our complexes will be bought by charitable foundations and businesses, now 85% - by the state, military units and communities," said a representative of the Kvertus company. A significant share of the volume of EW also falls on military purchases, in particular at the expense of 10% of the military personal income tax aimed at the technical support of military units. This contributed to obtaining important financing for urgent equipment purchases.
However, this approach also has its drawbacks. Every military unit needs a procurement specialist, otherwise some of the funds may go unused. The National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption pointed to the risks of inefficient use of funds due to the lack of clear procurement regulations.
Significant demand for EW devices is also observed in cities, where they are used to protect civilian infrastructure from drone attacks. Private companies also purchase such equipment to protect their facilities.
Currently, the EW market is undergoing changes. The Ministry of Strategic Industries indicates that small teams are beginning to unite to create quality products, while Brave1 notes that customers are increasingly paying attention to proven products, and manufacturers are trying to pass the state codification procedure.
Now the main task is to ensure that the market develops in the technologically correct direction and keeps up with trends at the forefront. For this, the state should simplify the process of product codification and ensure systematic and long-term orders from military structures.
