To disrupt GPS-guided munitions and drones, Russian forces in southern Ukraine have installed a high-powered radio jammer, effectively interfering with signal transmissions.

• Ukrainian Forces Destroyed the Pole-21 GPS-Jammer Using a GPS-Guided Bomb: How Did They Do It?

Ukrainian Forces Destroyed the Pole-21 GPS-Jammer Using a GPS-Guided Bomb: How Did They Do It?

The independent Conflict Intelligence Team noticed a striking irony. It appeared that the electronic-warfare system, presumably meant to be operational, was inactive during the attack. This system, known as Pole-21, integrates antennae and potent radio-signal generators, capable of disrupting radio connections between GPS satellites and various devices that rely on GPS for navigation, including drones, cruise missiles, and precision-guided bombs like the American Joint Direct Attack Munition. With an effective range of approximately 15 miles, Pole-21 is specifically “designed to protect strategic assets and infrastructure,” as explained by the U.S. Army. Although it remains unclear which specific assets the Pole-21 was protecting in Zaporizhzhia Oblast of southern Ukraine, it’s noteworthy that this region has been the focal point of Ukraine’s four-month-long counteroffensive, making it a likely target for the Kremlin to deploy its most advanced jamming technology.

The Ukrainian forces made a significant move last week, successfully targeting and destroying the Pole-21 GPS-jammer with a precision GPS-guided bomb. This incident underscores the evolving tactical landscape in Ukraine, where electronic warfare, especially radio-jamming, has become a pivotal tool for the Russian armed forces in countering NATO’s technological advantages in drones and precision munitions. Since the Ukrainians have embraced unmanned aerial vehicles and Western munitions, the Russians have intensified their electronic warfare infrastructure in occupied regions. A report by the Estonian defense ministry in 2017 highlighted Moscow’s efforts to modernize its electronic warfare capabilities, evident in its aggression against Ukraine. The Institute for the Study of War in Washington D.C. noted that the Russian counterattack around Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine on October 10 commenced with widespread jamming, further proof of Russia’s reliance on electronic warfare in its kinetic and non-kinetic operations.

Over the past 21 months, as Russia escalated its war on Ukraine, Kyiv’s forces have made significant progress in countering Russian electronic warfare tactics. Notably, they have successfully destroyed at least four dozen expensive Russian jamming systems, each costing tens of millions of dollars. This achievement highlights Ukraine’s effective use of technology and intelligence in the conflict. The Ukrainian operation to eliminate the Pole-21, a key Russian jamming system, began with precise drone reconnaissance by the White Wolf group of the Ukrainian intelligence service. Once a drone identified the distinct antennae configuration of the Pole-21, a Ukrainian air force fighter, likely a Sukhoi Su-27 or Mikoyan MiG-29, strategically launched a JDAM to neutralize the system. Such adaptations indicate that Ukrainian forces are quickly learning from and adapting to the changing battlefield conditions, while also exploiting Russian vulnerabilities. As the Ukrainians increasingly rely on GPS technology, the Russians have responded by attempting to disrupt these signals. However, Ukraine has proven resilient, targeting and destroying these jamming systems with impressive efficiency.

Ukrainian forces successfully destroyed the Pole-21 GPS-jammer last week, utilizing a GPS-guided bomb in a precision strike. This operation raises intriguing questions about the operational status of the jammer during the attack, as both the drone and the bomb employed by the Ukrainians rely heavily on GPS for navigation. The fact that they were able to accurately locate and destroy the Pole-21 suggests that it may not have been fully operational at the time of the raid. Although a JDAM can still function without GPS, its accuracy is significantly reduced. The Pole-21’s main drawback lies in its indiscriminate jamming of both enemy and friendly signals, posing a “high risk of co-channel interference for all radio-frequency spectrum users within its operational range,” as warned by the U.S. Army. Consequently, Pole-21 operators must exercise caution in activating the jammer, ensuring it’s only used when no Russian forces requiring satellite guidance are nearby. This limitation sometimes leads to the system being switched off, as explained by CIT, indicating a potential vulnerability exploited by the Ukrainians in their recent strike.

Ukrainian forces successfully destroyed the Pole-21 GPS-jammer last week, apparently using a GPS-guided bomb. It appears they either had a stroke of luck or skillfully timed their reconnaissance and bombing mission to align with a moment when the jammer was inactive, thus unable to defend against the munitions it’s meant to counter.