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. The weapons were a response to the successful actions of Ukrainian forces, which, thanks to the effective use of electronic warfare, were able to blind Russian reconnaissance drones and destroy enemy FPV drones.
These new drones are jam-proof, making them the first time such weapons have been used in combat. 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 jamming to defend against FPV drone attacks.
FPV drones typically require radio communication with the operator. This communication transmits video from the drone and command signals over another channel. Losing either of these signals usually results in an instant crash.
This is why various jammers, such as trench, suitcase, or car jammers, are often used on the front lines to create radio interference at certain frequencies. When effective, jammers create a protective space that usually prevents FPV drones from approaching. Experienced FPV operators can approach at an angle so that their drone flies through this space due to the force of 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 similar to that at Kursk, with a long preparation period to identify all the frequencies being used and enough concentration of jamming to block everything in a given area.
Drones can lose communication for other reasons as well. Radio communication essentially requires line-of-sight. This is fine when the drone is far from the ground, but as soon as it descends lower, communication begins to drop. Flying repeaters help, but FPV has to dive low during the final attack, and at the last second, the video signal often contains obstructions that impair visibility at a critical moment.
One solution to the problem of interference and communication is terminal guidance using artificial intelligence: an operator fixes a target at a certain distance, and the drone pursues it even if communication is lost. Such systems are already being implemented in limited quantities by both sides.
