What Is Electronic Warfare (EW)? Principles of Operation
As drones are now used everywhere, electronic warfare (EW) has become an essential part of modern combat. Anti-drone systems serve as effective tools for reducing the effectiveness of enemy UAVs and protecting one’s own personnel and infrastructure.
These systems combine a range of tools with one main goal: to detect, analyse, and neutralise the enemy’s electronic systems. As a result, the adversary loses communication, control over their drones, and access to navigation systems.
So how does EW work? The process involves several stages.
The first step is scanning radio frequencies to detect signals from enemy drones. Once a signal is identified, its type and source are determined. Based on this analysis, the system either jams the signal by creating noise on the same frequency the drone uses or deceives it using a method called spoofing, which manipulates GPS signals to force the drone off course or send it back to its base.
Modern drones rely on various types of signals. EW systems are designed to recognise those signals and apply the most effective countermeasure.
One method is video signal jamming, which disrupts the live video feed from the drone to its operator. Another is GPS/GLONASS jamming, which interferes with the drone’s navigation, causing it to lose orientation.
A third tactic is jamming control frequencies, which cuts off the operator’s ability to pilot the drone.
In the sections below, we’ll take a closer look at how EW systems function, the different types that exist, and how they impact drones on the battlefield.
Types of Electronic Warfare (EW) Systems
The goal of electronic warfare is to achieve maximum effectiveness, which requires selecting the appropriate type of protection system for each situation.
Mobile EW systems are designed for protection on the move. These systems can be mounted on vehicles, offering operational flexibility. Vehicle-mounted EW units have proven especially effective against FPV drones by severing their connection with operators.
Portable EW systems are used directly on the battlefield to provide rapid and efficient defense against UAVs. Compact and lightweight, they are easy to carry and ideal for quickly responding to drone threats in dynamic situations.
Stationary EW systems are larger and less mobile, typically deployed to protect important facilities over extended periods. These systems create a constant zone of radio-electronic suppression — enemy drones lose signal, control is disrupted, and navigation systems are rendered useless. Due to their static position, these systems require strong protection, such as shelters, armored modules, or integration into fortified structures. Whenever possible, they are powered by fixed energy sources, or by generators when necessary.
Ukraine is already deploying various types of EW systems. One of the most powerful is the “Enclave” system, which can generate multiple protective “domes” and jam control signals, GPS, and video feeds. “Enclaves” are used to safeguard command posts, warehouses, and other strategic targets.
Despite differences in form, all EW systems share the same goal: to disrupt enemy drones and prevent them from completing their missions.
How Electronic Warfare (EW) Affects Drones
Electronic warfare systems are designed to prevent drones from completing their missions. One common method is jamming the control channel by generating intense radio noise on a specific frequency. As a result, the drone loses contact with the pilot. What happens next can vary — it may return to base, crash, freeze in place, or change its flight path.
FPV drones with analogue connections (which typically use 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz frequencies), as well as UAVs that rely on standardized signal transmission protocols (often operating between 400–1100 MHz), are especially vulnerable to jamming.
For instance, Russia often jams DJI Mavic drones near the front lines, forcing Ukrainian operators to adapt by using evasive tactics — such as flying at extremely low altitudes to avoid detection and disruption.
Ukrainian EW-UA systems operate on frequencies ranging from 400 to 1100 MHz, as well as 2.4 and 5.8 GHz. These frequencies align with those used by Russian Mavics (typically 720–1020 MHz), making it possible for Ukraine to effectively jam them.
Similar frequency ranges are used by other Russian UAVs, such as the Orlan-10 (850–930 MHz) for reconnaissance, and Lancet drones (868–870 MHz and 902–928 MHz). This means Ukraine is capable of creating powerful “dead zones” where Russian drones can’t operate effectively.
However, it’s important to note that the enemy is actively working on countermeasures to bypass EW and is constantly introducing new technologies on the battlefield. The reverse is also true: the frequencies used by Ukrainian UAVs are targeted by Russian EW systems as well.
Another way to disrupt a drone is by targeting its navigation system. Jamming GPS signals causes the drone to lose its spatial orientation. In some cases, the use of high-powered jammers also disrupts navigation for civilian devices — causing phone maps to glitch, geolocation services to fail, and car GPS systems to malfunction.
A more sophisticated method is spoofing, which replaces the drone’s GPS coordinates with false ones. This “confuses” the drone and sends it off course. Spoofing is particularly effective against reconnaissance drones, which are often used to guide strike drones to their targets. Redirecting these “scouts” can lead them straight into ambushes or interception zones.
Jamming also affects video transmission and control signals, blinding the drone operator. When this happens, the operator no longer knows where the drone is or where it’s going. If this occurs during a strike mission, the entire operation could fail. This type of disruption is especially dangerous for FPV drones and artillery spotter drones, which are responsible for delivering precise coordinates and guiding attacks with high accuracy.
Ukraine’s war has now entered its fourth year, and there have been countless instances of drone – EW confrontations. Drones frozen in mid-air after losing connection or unable to transmit signals have been spotted not only on active battlefields, but even hovering over towns and cities in relatively peaceful areas. For many civilians, such scenes have become a routine part of daily life.
Drones vs. Electronic Warfare (EW): Examples from the War in Ukraine
Both sides of the front line — Ukrainian and Russian — actively use systems for jamming, interception, and countering drones. Ukrainian and Russian UAVs alike are regularly targeted by EW systems. However, close cooperation between government agencies and private companies in Ukraine has made it possible to continually develop new solutions to counter enemy EW efforts.
Drone Jamming: Real Cases
Russian EW systems commonly operate on the 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz frequencies, which significantly complicates the control of drones — especially popular commercial models like the DJI Mavic and Autel.
In response, Ukraine has increasingly turned to strike drones, whose main task is to destroy enemy defense systems located behind the front lines.
One example of a successful FPV drone strike against Russian EW systems was captured on video in Bakhmut. In the footage, operators from the 8th Regiment of Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces successfully destroy a Russian radar antenna.
Drone Interception and Forced Landing
In addition to jamming signals, anti-drone systems can also force drones to land or even take control of them mid-flight.
One notable example is the “Bukovel-AD” system, developed by the Ukrainian company Proximus. It is capable of detecting Orlan drones at distances of up to 100 kilometres.
Since 2016, Bukovel has been supporting the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the ATO, undergoing numerous upgrades and modifications over the years.
How Drone Operators Avoid EW Zones
Is it possible to bypass or evade electronic warfare (EW)? This is one of the key challenges currently being tackled by developers on both sides of the front line, as well as by international partners.
Already today, there are drones flying over the battlefield that can continue their missions even in the presence of active jamming. The integration of artificial intelligence, machine vision, automated target correction systems, and fibre-optic-guided drones is helping to reduce — or even completely overcome — the impact of EW systems.
Read how fibre-optic-guided drones are reshaping the battlefield in our article: https://vgi.com.ua/en/ukraine-russian-war-fiber-optics/
Operators also apply various tactical approaches:
- Changing frequencies and upgrading equipment
- Using relay drones and “mothership” UAVs that carry smaller strike drones
Dozens of Ukrainian companies are working to develop tools that counter EW threats. According to Oleh Donets, head of the EW division at the Brave1 Defense Tech Cluster, over 30 Ukrainian EW-related projects have already been codified to NATO standards. This enables these technologies to be deployed not only in Ukraine but also abroad.
The Brave1 initiative regularly organises events focused on discovering and testing innovative EW countermeasures. In October 2024, a Demo Day titled “EW vs FPV” was held, where 45 teams showcased their solutions. Their inventions were tested in real-world conditions under active jamming environments.
Ukraine continues to develop and deploy effective EW countermeasures on the battlefield. Many of these innovations are specifically designed for use in drone warfare.
Operation “Spiderweb”: Drones That Bypassed Electronic Warfare
Bold, high-profile (the whole world knows about it!), highly effective, and crucial for Ukraine, Operation “Spiderweb” marked a turning point at the beginning of June 2025. It became a landmark event and a perfect example of how modern drones can operate successfully even under intense electronic warfare (EW).
FPV drones and remote control systems were used to strike enemy airfields despite powerful jamming.
The massive drone attack on Russian air bases led to the destruction of over 40 strategic bombers, delivering a significant blow to enemy forces. The drones were transported to the launch sites by trucks, and from there, they were deployed directly into action.
This modern “Trojan Horse” tactic worked flawlessly.
How Drones Survive Under EW Attacks: Protection Techniques in War
Intensive efforts to develop new methods of protection against electronic warfare (EW) are delivering effective results, giving drone operators more tools to bypass interference and maintain control over UAVs. One of the key defence strategies is dynamic communication channel adaptation, which is based on using multiple channels and switching between them as needed:
- To make jamming more difficult, the drone constantly “hops” between frequencies.
- The UAV uses two independent communication channels — if one is jammed, it automatically switches to the other.
This built-in frequency-switching system is already widely used in FPV drones. Various drone models are being upgraded — for example, some FPV drones are fitted with VTX modules that operate on non-standard frequencies.
Drones have also “learned” to overcome GPS jamming. When the ability to navigate via satellite is lost, UAVs can switch to INS — inertial navigation. This combines the functions of an internal compass and gyroscope, allowing the drone to continue flying “blind” by following a pre-programmed and memorized route.
Ukraine’s Minister of Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov, published a video demonstrating how a drone continued its mission even after losing its GPS signal.
Another technological innovation that helps overcome EW interference is the use of cutting-edge digital video transmission instead of outdated analog systems. A key vulnerability of modern DJI drones is that they transmit a single dense signal, which becomes an easy target for electronic warfare systems. Switching to more reliable digital signals significantly improves performance, even under conditions of heavy interference.
FPV drones with autonomous navigation, professional operators trained not just in theory but through realistic simulators and live flight sessions, and the use of non-standard frequencies — this is no longer the future, but the current combat reality. These tools help bypass enemy defense systems and enable the effective deployment of drones both deep in enemy territory and on the front lines.
Work continues to enhance drone autonomy and reduce their vulnerability to EW systems. Already today, the skies are filled with next-generation UAVs that represent a powerful countermeasure to increasingly sophisticated electronic defense technologies.
In the quest to make drones independent from signal disruption, Ukrainian developers began offering EW-resistant drone guidance systems as early as 2023. Now begins the era of optical guidance and fiber-optic drones.
How Optical Systems Maintain Accuracy Under Jamming
The “brain” of optical guidance consists of computer vision algorithms, enabling the drone to “see” through a camera, analyse the image in real time, and transmit data to the operator. This has become possible thanks to a fusion of machine vision, thermal imaging, and artificial intelligence technologies.
Drones equipped with these guidance systems are already flying in Ukrainian-Russian airspace, executing missions in various environments — including under active EW interference.
In skies saturated with enemy jamming, a drone with an optical guidance system stands a better chance of reaching its target and avoiding interception. And this isn’t just theory. Ukrainian FPV drones with automatic optical guidance systems are already carrying out reconnaissance and combat missions, both in active combat zones and deep behind enemy lines.
Read an insightful conversation with the CTO of VGI-9 to learn more about the optical guidance system that is reshaping the battlefield and changing the future of war.
You can see these FPV drones in action, showcasing modern counter-EW systems, in videos published by developers on YouTube.
Risks and Advantages of Optical Guidance Systems
Can optical guidance systems be considered the perfect solution for countering electronic warfare (EW)? Like any technology, these systems are not all-powerful. Let’s take a closer look at the advantages and risks that come with the use of modern guided drones on the front lines.
What’s great about optical guidance systems?
These are the features that make guidance systems a must-have for the military.
- Autonomy: The optical system operates independently — even under intense jamming, the camera keeps working, and the drone continues flying toward its target.
- Stealth: It doesn’t reveal itself in enemy radio frequencies — it remains silent and invisible.
- Precision and intelligence: The drone quietly and precisely fulfills its mission, fully “understanding” the task it’s been assigned.
- Target tracking: It’s not just flying toward coordinates — it follows a moving target, even if that target changes location.
What Still Needs Improvement?
Even with all their advantages, guided drones shouldn’t be glorified as all-powerful technical tools. Despite their strengths, these drones also “fall” during missions — and here’s why:
- The camera isn’t perfect: Even the best visual devices can malfunction in poor weather or under sharp lighting contrasts. If the camera “can’t see,” the drone can’t fly.
- The “computer brain” is powerful — but limited: A drone still can’t think like a human. High-quality camouflage of targets can mislead the UAV. The algorithm may lose the target if it significantly changes appearance or becomes concealed.
- Development is resource-intensive: Creating guidance systems takes a lot — it’s not just about a camera and some code. It requires training, testing, and robust software.
Both in the workshop and on the front line, FPV drones with guidance systems are operated by people. And to operate modern UAVs, understanding only the structural features of the drone is not enough — at least basic IT knowledge is required.
Guided FPV drones aren’t a cure-all for every combat scenario, but combined with manual control and real-world operator experience, these “birds” can become one of the few solutions capable of breaking through the silence created by EW systems.
“Tethered” Drones: Fiber Optic vs. Electronic Warfare
Another effective tool against electronic warfare (РЕБ) has become FPV drones controlled via a fiber-optic cable. A simple fiber-optic cable — a long wire on a reel — transmits signals directly through the cable, which is truly a rescue from jamming. Electronic warfare has nothing to work with — there are no communication signals “in the air,” so they cannot be jammed. Electronic warfare cannot neutralize the cable because it’s not radio communication. The drone is invisible in the airwaves and continues to fly like regular FPV drones, but all communication between the drone and the operator happens “on a string” — a sturdy fiber-optic cable.
What does this give? Quite a few advantages:
- 100% protection from electronic warfare. The cable cannot be affected by electronic warfare tools. As long as the cable is intact, video and control signals continue uninterrupted.
- The operator stays safe without creating noise or emissions that could reveal their location.
- Fiber-optic drones are invisible to electronic warfare. They cannot be detected by scanners or sensors, making them an effective option for pinpoint attacks or reconnaissance in isolated or signal-jammed zones.
However, fiber-optic drones are not flawless either. First, their operational radius is limited by the length of the cable. Using a long cable increases the cost of the device, complicates its use, and adds weight (which reduces the device’s mobility).
Having a cable forces the operator to carefully calculate the drone’s flight path. The “string” won’t allow the drone to overcome some physical obstacles — it can get caught on branches, structures, or equipment. Also, the cable (even if very thin) becomes a burden for the drone, reducing its mobility and decreasing its acceleration and flight speed.
The Future of Countermeasures: Who Will Win — Signal or Artificial Intelligence?
The war in Ukraine is not just about drone versus drone combat. A third player is actively joining this confrontation — electronic warfare counter-drone technologies that can stop, blind, or stun even the “smartest” devices.
Electronic warfare operates on all fronts — jamming communication, interrupting video transmission, disrupting navigation. They leave simple drones helpless. The solution could be a drone that operates completely without any signal, fully autonomously.
Artificial intelligence provides flexibility, independence, and reduces vulnerability. Soon, drones may be flying that only need to receive a mission — a specific target type and search area. They will do everything else on their own, including bypassing obstacles created by electronic warfare and returning safely to base.
Contact us to get detailed information about the VGI-9 drone guidance system.
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