Russia is starting to beat Ukraine at electronic warfare, analysts say

Illustration by Kristen Radtke / The Verge

Intelligence analysts say that electronic warfare techniques may be giving Russian forces an advantage.

Russian electronic warfare systems are playing a greater role in the current phase of the war.

Hardware and software systems that can jam, intercept, or locate enemy communications are referred to as an "ew" by the designation. The Associated Press reported in June that the systems were being used more in eastern Ukraine, where shorter supply lines allowed Russian troops to move the equipment closer to the battlefield. The threat to their effectiveness was presented by the gps jamming of the drones.

According to an analysis published in Spectrum, a news publication produced by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the invasion of Russia was aided by electronic warfare.

Bryan Clark is the director of the Hudson Institute's Center for Defense Concepts and Technology. Analysts expected Russian forces to gain control of the spectrum in the early days of the invasion.

After nearly a decade of rehearsals in eastern Ukraine, Russian ew was a no-show when the latest invasion started in February.

Clark writes that now that Russian troops control more territory in Ukranian, they are resorting to "siege tactics" around the city. Russian troops have been able to jam the radar communications of Ukrainian drones, preventing them from finding Russian batteries. Russian forces have a numerical advantage in terms of firepower thanks to intercept techniques.

In addition to jamming measures, unofficial hacking efforts have also played a part in the conflict.