Ukrainian shoulder-fired missiles face 'nightmare' when confronting Russian electronic warfare weapons

Kamov Ka-52 combat helicopters with Vitebsk-25 electronic warfare upgrade kit are becoming a "nightmare" for man-portable missiles (MANPADS) on the battlefield in Ukraine.

The West said that Russia's Ka-52 Alligator attack helicopter squadrons suffered heavy losses in the early stages of the war, but it seems that Moscow has found an "antidote" to deal with the FIM-92 Stinger MANPAD missiles that Washington is supplying in large numbers to Kiev.

EurAsian Times reported that a Russian military helicopter nicknamed “Crocodile” set a record by neutralizing 18 MANPADS missiles by jamming enemy radio frequencies and returning to base intact.

Russian Ka-52 squadrons suffered heavy losses from shoulder-fired missiles in the early stages of the war.

The secret to the Ka-52's power lies in the domestically developed electronic air defense system called Vitebsk-25, also known by its export name, the President-S electronic warfare system.

“The Russians have to find a way to eliminate shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles if they don’t want to put their entire fleet of combat helicopters underground. The presence of suicide UAVs and other threats in the asymmetrical battlefield makes combat helicopters more vulnerable,” said an Indian Air Force helicopter pilot who requested anonymity.

Russia has deployed the Vitebsk-25 on fighter jets and medium-range helicopters in the Syrian conflict, with impressive results. Defense officials said that none of the aircraft equipped with the system was hit by MANPADS missiles fired by terrorists.

The Egyptian Ministry of Defense also conducted rigorous tests with the Ka-52 helicopter equipped with Vitebsk-25. They fired more than two dozen Igla MANPADS missiles but none of them could reach the target.

"Nightmare" with shoulder-fired missiles

The Vitebsk-25 electronic warfare system has given new life to Russian combat helicopters. It was first presented at Eurosatory-2010 in Paris in 2010. But at that time experts were skeptical about the missile deflection capabilities claimed by the manufacturer.

One of the system's outstanding features is that it operates in a fully autonomous mode, allowing it to respond to threats without waiting for a pilot's decision. In addition, the device is highly modular, allowing it to be easily integrated into a variety of aircraft types and configurations.

Russia's electronic warfare power makes shoulder-fired missiles ineffective

The Vitebsk-25 self-defense system includes an infrared missile tracker and laser countermeasures. The laser is used to counter enemy surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles. It is also connected to a flare launcher.

The device reportedly can detect and jam threats at 120 degrees azimuth and 60 degrees elevation. Along with infrared threats, the Vitebsk-25 detects and interferes with radar waves in the 4 gigahertz/GHz band up to 18GHz. The Vitebsk product line includes the L-370E8 system for medium utility helicopters and the L-370E26L for heavy rotorcraft.

Attack helicopters are equipped with L-370P2, L-370V52 and L-370E50. The L-3703S variant is equipped with a fixed-wing platform similar to the Su-25 fighter.

NATO is heavily equipping the Ukrainian armed forces with mobile air defense systems, including at least 2,557 FIM-92 Stingers and an unknown number of Piorun, Sungur, Strela-2, Igla and RBS-70 missile systems.

Vitebsk-25 works on the principle of scanning the entire area with radar warning receivers, detecting launches by scanning the area with radar and laser warning receivers, as well as IR & UV sensors, and then warning the crew about them.

In passive protection, it will activate smoke and flares to confuse and disable the missile. Meanwhile, with active defense, Vitebsk-25 directly interferes with the heat-seeking guidance system of the enemy missile and directs the threat to the decoy target.

Military experts assess that this Russian electronic warfare system has significant power in dealing with warheads using radar guidance technology.

(According to EurAsian Times)

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