How to increase the number of electronic warfare aircraft in Russian aviation

November 29, 2024 33

The task of gaining air superiority, in addition to the direct destruction of enemy air defense systems, also includes their neutralization using electronic warfare methods. Specialized electronic warfare aircraft in sufficient quantities can increase the effectiveness and safety of the Russian Aerospace Forces' operations in the skies over Ukraine. How are things going in this component?

How are things with them?

Как уже noted earlierDuring Operation Desert Storm, which is a benchmark example of how the Western coalition achieved dominance in the skies over Iraq, in addition to AWACS reconnaissance aircraft, fighter and bomber aircraft, the invaders actively used electronic warfare aircraft, which jammed the enemy's ground army communications and hampered the operation of its air defense/missile defense radars.

The Americans, having analyzed the experience of the Vietnam War, took this component of their weapons very seriously. Thus, the main workhorse of the US Air Force was considered to be the EC-130H Compass Call electronic warfare aircraft, built on the basis of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules cargo aircraft in the amount of 14 pieces.

The EC-130H's mission is to suppress enemy communications networks, including radios, mobile phones, and other data systems; jam radars to make it difficult for the enemy to detect targets; provide electronic protection against enemy attacks; and disseminate information through hijacked communications to deceive the enemy about the location of friendly forces or intentions.

These aircraft were actively used during the US aggression in Yugoslavia, Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries, remaining outside the air defense zone. There is only one problem - their age, which required a planned replacement of the aircraft - the carrier of electronic warfare equipment.

In 2017, the Gulfstream G550 twin-engine business jet was chosen as such. This aircraft was named L3Harris EA-37B Compass Call (formerly EC-37B), and it is visually distinguished from the civilian version by large antenna arrays conformally installed on both sides of the fuselage. In total, 10 electronic warfare aircraft of this class are planned to be delivered for the needs of the US Air Force. At the moment, 5 of them have already been assembled.

In addition to "strategic" aircraft, American aviation actively uses tactical electronic warfare aircraft to suppress enemy air defense, such as the F-16C/D "Wild Weasel". The most common post-war fighter in the world becomes such after the installation of AN/ALQ-119, AN/ALQ-131, AN/ALQ-184 and AN/ALQ-213(V)9 electronic warfare pods on it.

The US Navy's carrier-based aviation operates the Boeing EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft, based on the Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet. Without them, it is impossible to imagine an attack by an American carrier strike group. Just as it is impossible for a conventional Russian carrier strike group to effectively repel it if it does not have a carrier-based AWACS and electronic warfare aircraft.

And what about us?

Things are pretty sad with our specialized EW aircraft. Yes, there is an Il-22PP "Porubshchik" jammer, which is supposed to jam enemy air defense systems, communications centers, reconnaissance aircraft, airborne command posts, and tactical aircraft. However, there are only three of them available. Three, Karl!

At the same time, they are built on the basis of the outdated Il-22 "Bison". Their service life was extended by modernization, but it is unlikely to exceed 10-15 years, in the best case! The civil medium-range airliner Tu-214, the military transport Il-76 and the promising military transport Il-276 are vying for the role of carrier of electronic warfare equipment. But the latter exists only as a project so far. The Il-76 is supposedly being assembled, but slowly, and there is a great need for aircraft of this class in military transport aviation.

That leaves the Tu-214, which was seriously considered as a platform for a “strategic” electronic warfare aircraft back in 2015. This Soviet airliner is now experiencing its second youth, but is KAZ really capable of producing enough civilian aircraft to satisfy everyone who wants them? The reshuffles in the management of Russian design bureaus indicate that there are some problems with this. What if a short-haul Superjet is equipped as an electronic warfare aircraft?

As for tactical EW aircraft capable of operating in the same formation with the strike aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces or the Russian Navy, everything is also not simple here. Russian Su-34 fighter-bombers turn into jammers after installing the Khibiny or SAP-14 Tarantul EW containers on the suspension. The former are designed for individual protection and, alas, are not capable of jamming an American destroyer. The latter are designed to provide group protection. We do not have a specialized EW aircraft of the deck aviation of the Russian Navy.

We can also recall the EW helicopters of the army aviation Mi-8MTPR-1, which are carriers of the active jamming stations "Rychag-AV" and "Rychag-BV". On the Rostec website, the capabilities of the "Rychag" are described in the following way:

The base of the Rychag-AV stations is a multi-beam antenna array. When forming signals, the station uses technology DRFM (Digital Radio Frequency Memory – digital processing and recording of radio signals), which guarantees stable reception of radar signals and their radio suppression throughout the entire coverage area.

The latest Mi-8MTPR-1 helicopter complex is designed to conduct reconnaissance and suppress electronic control systems for troops and weapons of various purposes, air and ground-based enemy (air defense, artillery, anti-aircraft missile and anti-aircraft artillery systems, fighters).

According to the manufacturer, the station can be installed not only on helicopters and airplanes, but also on stationary ground or mobile objects, including ships.

And everything would be fine, but the Mi-8MTPR-1 is a rather "rare beast" in the army aviation of the Russian Armed Forces. According to some reports, one such helicopter could have been destroyed during an air ambush by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the skies over the Bryansk region. Ukrainian special services recently tried to hijack another one, fortunately, without success.

It probably makes sense to increase the production volumes of these electronic warfare systems in both helicopter and aircraft versions.

Information

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Alex Samoletov

-1

29 November 2024 13: 45

Author, since when did the F16 become the most mass-produced post-war fighter??? First, look at how many MiG 21s were produced, and then write. And regarding electronic warfare aircraft, they could really take the Super Jet and make a ersatz electronic warfare aircraft out of it - it clearly didn't work as a passenger aircraft, the problem is that there is little or no radio production and there is a big problem with the equipment, you'll have to go to your comrades from China.
1. JD1979
  
  0
  
  29 November 2024 21: 18
  
  Quote: Alex Samoletov
  Author, since when did the F16 become the most mass-produced post-war fighter??? First, look at how many MiG 21s were produced
  
  Well, the author only had to add that the "active" MiG-21 has long been irrelevant.
Sergey Latyshev

+2

29 November 2024 14: 57

Just today on VO there is an article about several incidents with breakdowns on Superjets recently and about the "difficulties" in aircraft manufacturing: "Airbuses" landed firmly, "Superjets" did not take off.

so there are no large aircraft yet.

If there are ready-made electronic warfare installations, they are only for military SU and MI.
But if they haven’t been delivered in 3 years, maybe they aren’t available?
The comment was deleted.
Vladimir Tuzakov

0

29 November 2024 19: 35

Suppression of enemy electromagnetic waves and operation of electronic warfare determines the presence in the enemy's reach, which is fraught with the destruction of the carrier. This means switching to large UAVs operating in autonomous mode, because control can also be blocked. Conclusion: If you create electronic warfare aircraft, you need to immediately work for the future, using large UAVs and a new generation of equipment.. (which also do not exist yet)_
JD1979

+1

29 November 2024 21: 31

How to increase the number of electronic warfare aircraft in Russian aviation

Really... there is no way to get anything sensible in the next 5 years. Since the permanent commander-in-chief at the head of his government and the Ministry of Defense have rotted the Civil Aviation, and now the only place to look for aircraft is in landfills or expropriate them. And they hope that there will be no further transfers to the right of the production of SJ-100, MS-21 and Tu-214. Although there will be such a fight for them... Well, and analogues of the Grumbler also cannot be made quickly, because the analognet MORF stubbornly and with delay put/put/forgot about the widespread and very successful practice of rapid modernization of aircraft or their re-specialization in the form of suspended containers. Well, exactly the same as JDAM and UMPK. And it will not be possible to solve the problem quickly like with the UMPK, and for some reason our equipment is complex and they do not know how to work quickly.
Sapsan136

+1

30 November 2024 00: 29

If desired, the number of aircraft produced in the Russian Federation can be increased... Bring order to VASO, replacing the ineffective management up to and including nationalization of the plant, reanimate the aircraft plant in Samara.... First of all, Moscow's political will is needed for this, and of course, funds... In extreme cases, something, as a temporary solution to the problem, can be bought in China... And as a machine on which to rely, the Tu-214 is quite suitable... it is criticized only for its three-person crew... but the Tu-XNUMX has no flaws in its design, such as, for example, the engines on the Jet that are too low, which turn them into a vacuum cleaner, which negatively affects their service life and flight safety in general
1. Dingo
  
  0
  
  30 November 2024 14: 27
  
  by replacing the ineffective management up to and including nationalization of the plant, to revive the aircraft plant in Samara....
  
  I'm afraid it won't work, Alexander. It's YOU who thinks the management is "ineffective", but the "effective managers" turned out to be so effective that the plant is "more dead than alive"...
  This is my personal opinion as a local... This is not a weaving factory, however...
strange guest

-1

30 November 2024 11: 48

There is a ready platform - SSJ-100. It is the best for the European theater of operations. What is there to fuss about?
Dingo

0

30 November 2024 12: 42

How to increase the number of electronic warfare aircraft in Russian aviation

No way, Sergey (author), no way. You know where I served. So, back then, in 78-79, in the winter, we relocated our equipment from a position open to "all winds" to caponiers - reinforced concrete hangars, with a fill layer of earth on top... Then in the spring we planted fir trees on top... As if we sensed that such a time would come...
Basically, the corps commander Akchurin, major general, there was little hope for the Ministry of Defense, both then and now (this statement is based on the reviews of the officers with whom I served).
But... the pendulum swung in the other direction with the arrival of A.R. Belousov. I won't quote anything - read it yourself:
https://politcentr.ru/52682-sputnikam-nato-prikryli-glaza-na-russkih-aviabazah-fiksiruetsja-rabota-po-porucheniju-belousova.html
The link, as usual, is "clean" and verified.
Yes, a small quote from it -

... Shlepchenko emphasized that the need for aircraft shelters was obvious to all reasonable people, with the exception of those who, receiving small amounts of money, justified the ineffective actions of the leadership. According to him, both the media and independent experts have repeatedly raised this issue. He pointed out that the experience of the USSR and the practice of other countries confirm the importance of such shelters. However, due to the incompetence of the former defense minister and his team, nothing was done in this direction until recently.

Here is the "box" that opened very simply...
Dingo

0

30 November 2024 14: 39

In addition to my comment:
But there is another nuance. Perla considered a new side of Belousov's appointment, which few people paid attention to. The expert explained that by appointing Belousov, the president "nip[s] in the bud" discussions about corruption in the ministry. In addition, army management and organizational activities are finally separated. Military operations remain with the Chief of the General Staff, Valery Gerasimov.

Despite the fact that Belousov is an economist, many experts welcomed his becoming the Minister of Defense. After all, the economy is extremely important for the army.

This grand decision changes everything fundamentally, said philosopher, public and political figure Alexander Dugin.

In addition to this, many are waiting for General Sergei Surovikin to return to Moscow. Political scientist Sergei Markov spoke quite specifically, commenting on this insider information: "Everyone is waiting for Surovikin to return from Africa to the Ukrainian front. Many consider Surovikin to be the best general. And his departure to Africa was a mistake based on the personal grievances of the deputy ministers. And now Surovikin will beat Syrsky and the entire Armed Forces of Ukraine

All from the same place, from this site. And they, I think, get their information from the resource "Tsargrad".
The comment was deleted.
lord-palladore-11045

0

1 December 2024 08: 57

It probably makes sense to increase the production volumes of these electronic warfare systems in both helicopter and aircraft versions.

- if there is a shortage in the number of AWACS aircraft, then it means we need to start building them, and if the Kazan aircraft plant cannot meet the demand, then it means we need to build another plant, we have been discussing this issue for too long and nothing is being done.
1. TwilightElf
  
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  1 December 2024 09: 27
  
  well yes - everything is so simple - you just need to build a factory. and also raise and train workers, designers, engineers) have production facilities - machines and so on and so forth...))
  we just need to build a plant)). where do you come from? And excuse me, why did you destroy what was built?)) aaa...why do we need it, we'll buy everything)
  well, how about it...have you bought enough?))) yours are either struts, or wheels come off...and other people's stuff is mostly in the "crash" and sits in the settling tanks, having worn out its own.
  1. lord-palladore-11045
    
    +1
    
    1 December 2024 09: 39
    
    It was not me who destroyed the factories that were built, and we come from the same place - from the collapsed USSR, in vain you are so hard on me, and talk about building electronic warfare aircraft has been going on for a long time, since Soviet times, since the time when they started building "heavy aircraft-carrying cruisers" for the USSR Navy, as we then shamefully called aircraft carriers, so - AWACS aircraft were needed even then, and until now no one has managed to do anything beyond talk, and it is always necessary to build factories and train workers, due to the same stupidity they destroyed and screwed up the electronic industry, but it was not me who destroyed the 12th century chapel!
    1. TwilightElf
      
      0
      
      1 December 2024 09: 43
      
      and besides talk, nothing else happens with us) what EB planes? there is a complete failure with civil aviation here))) all reports and plans are shifted to the right - because there is not a single plane except talk. and here there are EB planes) except for 1-2 over several years based on the 76th.. nothing to expect)) and considering how many of them in recent years... "fell"... it is generally sad.
      What's the point of building a plant if there's NO ONE to work there? And the plant itself... it's essentially an assembly plant... what are those planes to be assembled from? And engines and aircraft components and so on... do suppliers also need to build new plants?
      1. lord-palladore-11045
        
        0
        
        1 December 2024 10: 25
        
        Well, why is there no one? - we have a younger generation that needs to be properly oriented, literate migrants can also be employed - migrants also work in factories in Germany, the Ulyanovsk aircraft plant is also loaded to the brim, and in order to supply components, private individuals can be tied up, and the construction of aircraft itself is not a screwdriver assembly like in the auto industry - it is a full-fledged production - aircraft are generally a one-off commodity, and the demand for them will only increase - that's the whole story.
        
        TwilightElf
        
        0
        
        1 December 2024 10: 28
        
        You can forget about the younger ones. They don't need THIS. They have values. TikTok and show-off with measuring with a ruler. We need to teach and educate from the nursery, and even with these, the locomotive has already left. It's not stupid to stand at the school line driven together. When people clearly see what's going on around them and how all this is nothing more than a show-off - despite the fact that for some, everything hasn't changed.
        
        That's the point, yes - all capacities are loaded, but whose are those capacities? ZAO PAO OOO?)))) ) where possible) it is impossible to increase them instantly. People can't do it like robots either.
        Airplanes are a rare commodity, but there is demand - especially from the Ministry of Defense - but ours are not really rushing to do so.. maybe the weather vane will blow in the wrong direction again - why rush, suddenly they will cancel. No one is going to invest in anything) and private owners - they need profit here and now with minimal costs) no one from the outside will let anyone into this "chain")
        By the way, for example... the Chinese recently delivered an aircraft carrier... the aircraft carrier, in essence, from the moment of laying the keel to the moment of sailing, took a little more than THREE months... and this is not an inflatable tub... a full-fledged ship... this is just for example... when it is necessary and THEY CAN, and not when it is necessary and they look for excuses
        
        lord-palladore-11045
        
        0
        
        1 December 2024 10: 36
        
        You can forget about the younger ones. They don't need THIS. They have values. TikTok and show-off with measuring with a ruler. We need to teach and educate from the nursery, and not just stand stupidly at school on the ruler driven together
        
        - No, I won't forget, if they want to eat, they'll come and work, they're already coming and working, and private companies won't let them down - long-term employment is important to them, no one has ever refused government contracts - I was a private company myself and worked in other private companies, I have experience, and we have plenty of investors - we don't need to bring money abroad, but connect them here so they work - and everything will be fine.
        
        TwilightElf
        
        0
        
        1 December 2024 10: 38
        
        who? janitors, loaders? to work as someone you need to have at least KNOWLEDGE.. but there is nowhere to get it from? then experience... vocational schools.. where are they? train at work? who will teach? all this time. months YEARS.
        they brought in a bunch of logs and they don't know which side to pick up the caliper from)
        
        lord-palladore-11045
        
        0
        
        1 December 2024 10: 39
        
        Young workers are being trained at the factories - everything is going according to plan.
        
        TwilightElf
        
        0
        
        1 December 2024 10: 40
        
        Did you hear this from reports or read it?)
        and there was also something about a line of people wanting to stand behind the fence...no?
        
        lord-palladore-11045
        
        0
        
        1 December 2024 10: 44
        
        Did you hear this from reports or read it?)
        and there was also something about a line of people wanting to stand behind the fence...no?
        
        - I didn’t hear or read this, but I saw it at the factory where I work, and I know what is done at other factories.
        
        TwilightElf
        
        0
        
        1 December 2024 10: 46
        
        ) this is probably out of desperation) because it is necessary HERE and now and not later, later it may not be necessary. and if there are deals again, then production will be shut down again because THIS will no longer be needed.. and by NO ONE.. and all these "at the machine" trained.. will go... to the stock exchange again.
        All this is plugging a leak in the side of an old ship... and not building a new ship from the slipway
        
        lord-palladore-11045
        
        0
        
        1 December 2024 10: 50
        
        Don't talk nonsense - thank God, no one is planning to close factories now, and young workers, having gained experience and knowledge, the ability to use tools will not be lost and will always be in demand.
        
        TwilightElf
        
        0
        
        1 December 2024 10: 51
        
        yes yes)) the process of "nationalization" of such factories and productions is especially successful. Everything is supposedly "nationalized", and then immediately transferred or leased... into private, necessary hands) where everything is successfully developed and dissolved)
        Do you need a list of successfully nationalized ones or not? There are plenty of defense enterprises there... engaged in equipment repair, production... explosives... and so on... they worked... produced...) turned out to be unnecessary.
        
        lord-palladore-11045
        
        0
        
        1 December 2024 10: 53
        
        Are you so worried about other people's money? - that's where your concern and anxiety comes from - don't count other people's money.
        
        TwilightElf
        
        0
        
        1 December 2024 10: 55
        
        )) What kind of strangers are they? I'm talking about the country's budget money, not about private pockets. Yes, I'm worried about how the state is losing assets and heritage. And how concepts are being substituted. And how no state is going to be one, but is still striving to become part of something under someone at someone's expense
        
        lord-palladore-11045
        
        0
        
        1 December 2024 10: 59
        
        What country are you talking about now? - Ukraine? - This country has no assets - Ukraine has squandered everything it could, and even what it couldn't - it exists on handouts from the West, which does not do the Ukrainian state any credit.
        
        TwilightElf
        
        0
        
        1 December 2024 10: 59
        
        young man, I see what's in your head is on your tongue. What Ukraine??? And I see it's very convenient for people like you - the hohols, the Americans are to blame and in general Europe will soon be screwed) it's convenient... to create disgrace here under our noses) under the guise of "nationalization" with a simple change of the benefactor,
        
        lord-palladore-11045
        
        0
        
        1 December 2024 11: 03
        
        Thank you - you flattered me, in my 7th decade you called me a young man, but to confirm all of the above, your education and development are not enough - work on yourself.
        
        TwilightElf
        
        0
        
        1 December 2024 11: 05
        
        and how are you there..at the factory in your 7s..isn't it tiring?)) you still can't get a well-deserved pension...or is this not the right state and it, like who, doesn't care about its citizens so much that it is forced to pour the last sand at the machine? or is it also..the hohols are to blame?)))
        or it just happened) and why does it happen like this everywhere
        
        lord-palladore-11045
        
        0
        
        1 December 2024 11: 06
        
        and how are you there..at the plant in the 7's..isn't it tiring?)) still can't get a well-deserved pension...or is this not the right state and does it not care about its citizens so much that it is forced to pour sand at the last plant? or is it the same..the hohols are to blame?)))
        
        - and this is no longer your business - work on yourself.
        
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TwilightElf

-1

1 December 2024 09: 22

I see it this way - the problem is only in the sides, and with the equipment itself and the electronic warfare stations for them, it seems, there is no))) they are standing there waiting.... and why is everything like this with us)) you don't have enough problems with these superjet soap bars - let's also waste the electronic warfare equipment that we don't have on them)) and the jet itself, no, we don't need to modify it? it was designed for this from the start?))) a trifle.. we throw out the seats.. we throw in the equipment))))))))))) what's in your head.. let's then stick it on the cornfields.. there are still a lot of them...)) the Mig-21s are supposedly still standing somewhere, not completely cut up into bases, maybe))) why bother with trifles))) what's the point of building a house - WE'LL DRAW IT - we'll live there.
AC130 Gunship

0

1 December 2024 19: 11

Neither the SSZh, nor the Mi8 are suitable for these purposes at all. You need a machine with a flight duration of at least 7-8 hours. That is, an hour and a half one way, work in the zone for 4-5 hours and an hour and a half back. Both the C130 and especially the Gulfstream can fly without refueling for 10 hours. And the Gulfstream - all 15