Maritime electronic warfare systems: Russian ships began to protect the Pole-21 electronic warfare systems

In modern conditions of military strategy and tactics, the role of electronic warfare (EW) on warships is becoming increasingly important. Today, this aspect of protecting the state from enemy threats is an integral part of the defense of any navy.

Electronic warfare is a complex, multifaceted field that includes a range of actions aimed at suppressing, deceiving or destroying enemy electronic systems. It ensures the concealment of one's own radio-electronic systems, the detection and classification of enemy radio-electronic radiation sources, as well as their neutralization and suppression.

Russian sea-based electronic warfare system

Electronic warfare equipment on warships typically includes electronic stations, equipment and systems designed to detect, analyze and suppress enemy electronic radiation. These systems are developed taking into account the specifics of the maritime theater of operations and can operate both independently and as part of the ship's integrated defense system.

Russian sea-based electronic warfare system

Along with equipment for detecting and suppressing enemy electronic radiation, warships use means of protection against enemy electronic warfare. This may include electronic camouflage, deception and jamming systems designed to make it difficult for an enemy to detect and target.

Electronic warfare systems are developing in accordance with the constant improvement of the enemy's electronic systems. So, in recent years, the tasks of combating modern systems of radar, radio navigation and communications, as well as electronic weapons control systems, have come to the fore.

An important part of the electronic warfare system is high-precision electronic destruction systems capable of not only interfering with enemy electronic systems, but also directly destroying them. This makes it possible to significantly strengthen the defensive capabilities of warships and increase their survivability in the conditions of modern electronic warfare.

In modern conditions, given the rapid development of technology and the changing nature of warfare, electronic warfare systems are becoming one of the key elements of military strategy and tactics. Their development and improvement is an important task for ensuring the security of the state in the face of the growing threat of electronic warfare.

Pole-21 electronic warfare systems began to be installed on ships of the Russian Navy

On the eve of the annual naval parade, which traditionally takes place in St. Petersburg on July 30, the Russian Navy expressed concern about possible drone attacks on the event. This time around, the scale of the parade was reportedly significantly reduced compared to previous years, which may indicate the seriousness of the concern of the country's military leadership.

According to photographs circulating on Russian social media, a GPS jammer was found on a Russian warship in St. Petersburg. Corvette "Soviet" of project 22800 (Karakurt), on which three vertical antennas on temporary brackets were seen on July 14, is part of the Pole-21 electronic warfare system.

Russian electronic warfare system "Pole-21" on warships in St. Petersburg

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have already been used to attack targets deep within Russia, including the Kremlin, on May 3, 2023. Many of these drones can probably even be launched from Russian territory. In this sense, St. Petersburg is also within the reach of UAVs.

Ships with electronic warfare systems

According to Russian state media, Pole-21 is capable of protecting strategic targets from cruise missiles, guided bombs and drones. Radio jamming can block various satellite channels including GPS, Galileo and Beidou. There are also rumors about his influence on the Starlink system. While public information needs to be treated with caution, there is no doubt that Russian EW systems are highly capable.

The Pole-21 system has a declared range of about 20 km. This will complement other EW systems that are already blocking GPS signals throughout the city.

Thus, Russian military strategy is increasingly focusing on countering the threat posed by drones, and electronic warfare systems play an important role in this.

Prospects for maritime EW systems

It is more than likely that the same electronic warfare systems have already been installed, or will be installed on the ships of the Black Sea Fleet involved in the NMD, which is especially important against the backdrop of numerous drone attacks.

Reconnaissance ship equipped with EW and RER systems

Electronic warfare systems are capable of providing a high degree of protection against a wide variety of threats, including drones, cruise missiles, electronic countermeasures, etc. Today, Russia is clearly succeeding in the development of such weapons, and, as practice in the NMD zone has shown, Russian electronic warfare systems are extremely efficient.