Combined Arms Academy of the Armed Forces of the russian federation has patented a system of electronic suppression of unmanned aerial vehicles for short-range air defense weapons, foremostly for the Strela-10 mobile surface-to-air missile system, russian state-affiliated media report.
With the new "targeted counter-drone system," russian air missile launchers will get insurance in the form of additional passive anti-drone protection, the sources explain. Notably, they say the electronic warfare (EW) device will be shaped similarly to a launch tube of a surface-to-air missile.
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The EW system will not only generate electronic interference but be able to determine the type of UAV and which side it belongs to, i.e. have an Identification Friend or Foe feature. The EW equipment will be installed during production of new SAM systems or modernization of existing ones.
To add to the context, Defense Express reminds of a special modernization of the Strela-10 designated M4. The Strela-10M4 was positioned in russia as a system tailored for counter-UAV missions.
This SAM variant was first revealed in 2005, the supply to the russian military started 2015. The system became capable of nighttime operation and received the updated 9M333 interceptor — the production of this missile commenced at Kalashnikov Group in 2021. The novel interceptor was declared to have an increased warhead weight and improved resistance to EW interference.
Moreover, the russian defense industry invested in creating the Ptitselov (Bird Catcher) SAM system to replace the aging Strela-10. In 2022, russian media mentioned that the first units of this novelty would be supplied to the airborne forces of russia. The system is mounted on the BMD-4M chassis.
The Ptitselov carries up to twelve 9M340 missiles with a range of 10 km and a velocity of 500 m/s, the interceptor is designed to neutralize helicopters, cruise missiles, or unmanned aerial vehicles. In 2023, the works on this SAM system were announced as complete, mass production to commence in 2024.
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