The Russians have begun using a new type of protected 32-element satellite navigation antenna on Shahed-type strike drones. Previously, the enemy used antennas with 16 elements.
This was reported by the president’s freelance technology adviser, Serhii (“Flash”) Beskrestnov, on Facebook.
According to him, the new antennas are being found on Shaheds attacking Kyiv.
The expert explained that Russian drones can locate targets using satellite navigation, including GPS, or via radio control by an operator using a MESH modem.
Ukrainian forces counter the guidance using electronic warfare (EW) systems, creating interference on the relevant frequencies.
At the same time, the Russians are installing special CRPA antennas on drones, which help to counter such interference.
“The more elements, the more EW signal sources the antenna can suppress,” Beskrestnov noted.
He explained that whereas previously, to counter such antennas it was, условно, necessary to ensure the presence of 16 EW sources around the drone, now their number must double.
He stressed that this technological race creates additional difficulties for Ukraine, because increasing the number of antenna elements is easier for the enemy than it is for the Ukrainian side to expand its network of electronic warfare systems.
- In Kyiv, 12 automatic turrets have been installed to combat Russian Shahed jet-powered drones.