COMBINED ECM OPERATIONS

Valery Blokhin, Director of Gradient Research Institute
Gennady Kapralov, Director General of Kvant Production Association
 

Recent local wars and armed conflicts which involved modern arms indicate that major strikes against enemy forces were delivered by air-launched precision-guided weapon systems (ALPGWS).

1. Automated Battalion Command Post (AKPB) /Automated Company Command Post (APUR)

2. SPN-2 (SPN-4) high-power jammer

At the preparatory and delivery stages the ALPGWSs are supported by various electronic systems designed to provide intelligence, verify the obtained data, establish communication between units and guide the weapons towards their targets. However, despite their broad abilities, the electronic systems have one serious disadvantage: they are susceptible to an adverse affect of various natural and man-made interferences. Intelligence-gathering radio-electronic systems are sensitive to specific types of jamming signals which can either hinder the use of weapons by the enemy or, sometimes, even make it completely impracticable.

Electronic countermeasures (ECM) systems are finding ever increasing use by the world’s leading armies. Studies made in this field indicate that joint employment of combat and ECM systems considerably increases the overall war-fighting capability. As a rule, ECM elements and units and subdivided into two independent groups, each of which performs a unique task: (a) one group suppresses enemy radio communications and (b) the other group is responsible for his radar and electronic facilities.

Although dedicated employment of different assets sometimes looks very attractive, the use of combined ECM units (or elements) is more desirable in certain situations, provided a highly automated control of their joint operations is attained.

The Gradient Research Institute (Rostov-on-Don) in partnership with the Kvant Production Association (Veliky Novgorod) and subcontractors, have developed the equipment for combined ECM units and now offer it for export.

A possible variant of an reinforced (combined) ECM battalion is presented on the chart.

This battalion incorporates:

— modified automated battalion command post (AKPB-D);

— SW and USW communications jamming company;

— airborne radar jamming battalion;

— electronic reconnaissance company;

— radar reconnaissance company.

The command post of the reinforced battalion is represented by the automated command post (AKPB) organic to the airborne radar jamming battalion. This command post is appropriately modified to control different-purpose reinforced companies (AKPB-D).

RTR-85V6 station

The SW and USW communications jamming company is equipped with the R-330K (T), R-325U, R-378A and R-934U jamming stations.

The electronic reconnaissance company incorporates the RTR-85V6 mobile automatic station and Avtobaza reconnaissance station.

The radar reconnaissance company can be equipped with the Nebo-SV modern surveillance radars, as well as Obzor and Kupol 3D radars which transmit (via the PORI radar data processing post) the entire package of processed aerial situation data to the AKPB-D command post. This system can also incorporate radars in service with the client’s armed forces.

The core of the reinforced battalion is the airborne radar jamming battalion tasked to suppress airborne side-looking, navigation, low-altitude flight, and weapon management radars. The battalion comprises three companies equipped with the SPN-2 and SPN-4 high-power jammers which can be activated either by the operator via a control console, or from the automated company-level control post. The airborne radar jamming battalion is capable of suppressing up to 50 aircraft radars simultaneously approaching from any direction at an altitude of 30 meters to 30 kilometers. The battalion’s capabilities were described in more detail in Military Parade #6, 1997.

The information exchange between battalion elements is accomplished by telecoded and radio telephone inks.

The proposed structure of the reinforced (combined) ECM battalion provides for automatic accomplishment of the whole range of missions: from air space electronic and radar reconnaissance to optimal target distribution among organic jamming assets.

The ‘combined ECM unit’ approach helps the unit commander to vary the composition of his ECM unit to respond to the specific tactical environments adequately and allows clients to order the equipment assortment they need or can afford.