Using Drones for Electronic Warfare: Tactics and Technologies

Using Drones for Electronic Warfare: Tactics and Technologies

Introduction

With the development of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), their use in military conflicts has reached a new level. One of the most promising areas is the use of drones for electronic warfare (EW). In this article, we will discuss the tactics and technologies used for EW with the help of drones, based on real combat experience, and provide mathematical models to assess their effectiveness.

Main Tasks of Electronic Warfare Using Drones

Electronic warfare encompasses a wide range of tasks aimed at suppressing or destroying the enemy's electronic assets. The main tasks of EW using drones include:

1. Jamming Communication: Suppressing radio and radio relay communication lines of the enemy.
2. Electronic Intelligence: Collecting information about the enemy's electronic assets.
3. Creating Interference: Creating interference for navigation and weapon control systems of the enemy.
4. Signal Spoofing: Introducing false data to misinform the enemy.

Technologies and Equipment

1. Communication Jamming Devices

Drones equipped with jamming transmitters can effectively suppress the enemy's communication lines. Examples of such devices are high-power transmitters operating in the VHF and UHF ranges.

2. Electronic Intelligence

Drones equipped with electronic intelligence complexes can detect and identify enemy radio emission sources. This includes the use of directional antennas and spectrum analyzers.

3. Interference Creation Systems

Interference creation systems on drones can generate signals that disrupt the operation of navigation systems (e.g., GPS) and weapon control systems. This is achieved using wideband transmitters and phased array antennas.

4. Signal Spoofing Devices

To mislead the enemy, spoofing devices are used to replace navigation or communication signals, directing the enemy to false targets or providing them with distorted data.

Tactics for Using Drones in EW

1. Coordinated Attacks

One effective approach is to use multiple drones for coordinated attacks on the enemy's electronic assets. For example, one drone can perform electronic intelligence tasks, identifying targets, while other drones create interference or jam communications.

2. Using Drone Swarms

A drone swarm can be used to create large-scale interference and disorganize the enemy's electronic assets. This is achieved by distributed interference creation over a large area.

3. Stealth and Covert Penetration

Drones using stealth technologies and camouflage methods can covertly penetrate enemy territory, creating interference or performing electronic intelligence tasks without detection.

Mathematical Models and Effectiveness Assessment

Radio Wave Propagation Model

To assess the effectiveness of EW tools on drones, it is important to consider the radio wave propagation model. The basic equation for calculating path loss can be written as:

L = 20 log₁₀(d) + 20 log₁₀(f) - 147.55

where L is the path loss (dB), d is the distance (km), and f is the signal frequency (MHz).

Calculation Example: Suppose a jamming transmitter on a drone operates at a frequency of 400 MHz, and the distance to the target is 2 km. Substituting these values into the formula:

L = 20 log₁₀(2) + 20 log₁₀(400) - 147.55
L = 20 ⋅ 0.3010 + 20 ⋅ 2.6021 - 147.55
L = 6.02 + 52.042 - 147.55
L = 58.062 - 147.55
L = -89.488 dB

Thus, the path loss will be -89.488 dB.

Jamming Efficiency Assessment

The efficiency of jamming can be assessed using the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). For successful jamming, the interference level must exceed the enemy's communication signal level. This can be expressed as:

SNR_jam = P_jam / P_sig

where P_jam is the jamming power, and P_sig is the signal power.

Calculation Example: Suppose the jamming transmitter power is 10 W (40 dBm), and the enemy's communication signal power at a distance of 2 km is 0.1 W (20 dBm). Substituting these values into the formula:

SNR_jam = 40 dBm / 20 dBm
SNR_jam = 2

Since the signal-to-noise ratio is greater than one, jamming will be successful.

Detection Probability Analysis

To assess the probability of drone detection by the enemy, a radar model can be used. The detection probability depends on the drone's radar cross-section (RCS) and the enemy's radar power:

P_det = P_radar ⋅ RCS / R⁴

where P_radar is the radar power, and R is the distance to the radar.

Calculation Example: Suppose the enemy's radar power is 1000 W, the drone's RCS is 0.01 m², and the distance to the radar is 5 km. Substituting these values into the formula:

P_det = 1000 ⋅ 0.01 / (5000)⁴
P_det = 10 / 625000000000000
P_det = 1.6 × 10^-11

Thus, the probability of drone detection at a distance of 5 km will be extremely low.

Conclusion

The use of drones for electronic warfare represents a promising direction in modern combat operations. The application of various tactics and technologies, including coordinated attacks, drone swarms, and stealth methods, allows for the effective suppression of enemy electronic assets. Mathematical models and efficiency analysis help assess the potential of these technologies and develop strategies for their application.