Russia Ukraine’s Digital Battlefield Ignites: Unleashing Zephyr-Quick Cyber Warfare Strategies
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Ukrainian Lives Hang On A Deadly Electronic Warfare Arms Race
In the midst of war and destruction, a silent but deadly battle is unfolding between Ukraine and Russia – an electronic warfare arms race. The stakes are high, as success means the difference between a bomb landing in an empty field instead of hitting a building full of innocent people.
The Russian military has been using advanced bombs and drones to attack Ukrainian civilians, with devastating consequences. These weapons rely on GPS signals from satellites, which can be disrupted by jammers. Initially, Russia’s four-antenna CRPA devices were effective against Ukraine’s attempts to jam the signals. However, this situation did not last long.
According to OSINT analyst Roy, who has been documenting the developments on his Twitter feed, Ukraine managed to overwhelm the Russian system by deploying more jammers and concentrating them in areas where attacks are most likely to occur. The Russians responded by upgrading their CRPA devices to eight antennas, which restored the accuracy of their UMPK glide bombs and Shaheds.
But this back-and-forth escalation is not over yet. Roy has observed that Ukraine has now started using twelve- and even sixteen-element Komet jammers, with no signs of stopping. Each upgrade adds complexity, but the Russian military appears committed to maintaining the accuracy of its weapons.
What’s fascinating is the accelerating pace at which this electronic warfare arms race is evolving. The switch from four elements to eight took at least a year, followed by a few months to go to twelve, and then just a short period to sixteen. This rapid escalation may suggest that Ukraine is deploying more (or more effective) jammers faster than Russia can respond.
However, there’s another card up Ukraine’s sleeve – spoofing. By mimicking a satellite with false navigation data, Ukraine’s Pokrova system could quietly defeat the Russian Komet devices’ attempts to jam signals. This vulnerability may force Russia to continue adding more and more elements in an attempt to get through, unaware that they are actually being spoofed.
Ukraine also has other ways to counter Kometa devices. Given their knowledge of VNIIR Progress’s location and production facilities in St. Petersburg, which are within range of Ukrainian drones and missiles, targeting the supply chain could be a viable option. Moreover, it has been discovered that Russia relies on Western components from companies like Taoglas, branded as Irish-made units. The enforcement of existing sanctions against Russia should prevent them from building weapons using these components.
The stakes in this electronic warfare arms race are extremely high. Electronic warfare is an obscure field, and few people even know what CRPA and null-forming mean. However, the outcome will have a profound impact on the lives of innocent civilians caught in the crossfire.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhambling/2025/03/27/ukrainian-lives-hang-on-a-deadly-electronic-warfare-arms-race/
