During the practical exercises of the combined arms army stationed in Transbaikalia, a new highly mobile complex of electronic warfare (EW) "Palantin-K" was used.
This was reported by the press service of the Eastern Military District (VVO).
“Having established radio interference, EW specialists disrupted the channels for controlling and collecting information from the guidance and reconnaissance means of a mock enemy using a link to global radio navigation and satellite systems,” the website of the Russian Defense Ministry says.
Together with Palantin-K, the radio interference was set up by the Leer-3 electronic warfare complex with a drone equipped with special equipment.
As noted in the military department, its use "significantly increased the effectiveness of protecting objects from the use of unmanned aerial vehicles, electronic and electronic intelligence equipment, as well as targeting precision weapons."
"Leer-3" is designed for radio suppression of GSM cellular communication terminals.
The complex consists of a control vehicle based on the chassis of a KamAZ-5350 large-tonnage vehicle and an unmanned jamming transmitter.
The radius of the blocking zone for cellular communications with the UAV is about 6 km, the flight range is 200 km.
In addition to jamming, "Leer-3" is able to carry out reconnaissance by determining the radiation points of enemy objects in GSM networks, as well as transmit data about enemy targets to artillery crews.
According to experts interviewed by RT, the use of Palantin-K in conjunction with a drone from Leer-3 allows you to inspect the area for enemy targets and increase the range of jamming.
“The drone in this case performs the functions of a reconnaissance and transmitter-emitter of signals for jamming.
Along with this, it ensures selectivity of actions - the UAV allows you to more accurately influence enemy targets, covering the necessary square with interference, ”explained military expert Yuri Knutov in an interview with RT.
"Blind the Enemy"
Palantin-K has been supplied to the Russian army since 2019.
The first vehicles were received by the troops of the Western Military District (ZVO).
Crew training takes place on the basis of the Interspecific Center for Training and Combat Use of Electronic Warfare Troops in the Tambov Region.
The developer of the Palantin-K electronic warfare complex is Sozvezdie Concern JSC (Voronezh), which specializes in the manufacture of high-tech intelligent control and communication systems, electronic warfare equipment and other special weapons.
The enterprise is a part of the Ruselectronics holding.
"Palantin-K" is designed to conduct electronic reconnaissance, suppress existing and future enemy radio communication systems.
As noted in the materials of the ZVO, the equipment of the complex allows you to literally "dazzle" the enemy.
Deployment of the equipment of the Palantin-K electronic warfare complex
© Ministry of Defense of Russia
“The capabilities of the equipment make it possible to blind the enemy in the shortwave and ultrashortwave ranges, as well as to deprive him of cellular and trunking communications.
In addition, Palantin-K is endowed with a backbone function, that is, it is able to combine various electronic warfare and electronic intelligence systems into a single working network, which significantly increases the efficiency of their use, ”the website of the Russian Defense Ministry reports.
Other materials of the military department say that Palantin-K counteracts ground terminals for satellite and radio relay communications, and is also used to create interference detected by electronic countermeasures.
According to Knutov, the suppression of trunking (trunk) communication means, systems that automatically select free communication channels between subscribers, is of particular importance in the functionality of the Palantin-K complex.
This type of radio communication is often used for military purposes.
According to Rostec, Palantina-K equipment can successfully counteract radio equipment built on the basis of SDR technologies (Software Defined Radio).
Such communication complexes provide transmission of a broadband signal from a radio receiver to a computer and can change the radio frequency parameters of the equipment using software.
In addition, on the basis of SDR technologies, information systems are manufactured that distribute signals from satellites, radio stations and GSM standard cellular communication sources.
As Knutov explained, Palantin-K has software that allows you to track the frequency tuning of enemy communication systems.
“The complex can determine the change in the frequencies of the enemy and suppress them.
In addition, it can operate in the shortwave and ultrashortwave bands, suppress cellular and trunking communications, ”the expert noted.
A column of vehicles of the Palantin-K electronic warfare complex
© Ministry of Defense of Russia
The Ruselectronics website reports that Palantin-K consists of 22 mobile stations mounted on four-axle KamAZ vehicles.
The application of the complex is as follows: carriers of special equipment are placed along the front line, start generators, deploy 15-meter antenna masts and connect to the data exchange network.
“The complex is capable of suppressing any activity on the air: headquarters radio stations, artillery or aviation radars, control signals of bombs and cruise missiles.
In this way, they hide the whole army from the enemy, for example, from cruise missiles that are guided by GPS.
As a result, planes, missiles will go blind, and the enemy will be disconnected from orders, ”Ruselectronics explains.
According to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, the developers of the Palantin-K complex implemented a modern decision support system in it, which “allows you to build an optimal algorithm for performing tasks without human intervention, autonomously distribute resources and the functional load of each of the machines.”
From the data of the military department it follows that in the exercises "Palantin-K" is often used to collect and process information about the features of the enemy command and control system.
The equipment of the complex detects and then suppresses the main and spare frequencies of communication channels, thus violating the control system.
In addition, "Palantin-K" is used to combat enemy drones, guidance and reconnaissance.
At the January exercises in Transbaikalia, the equipment of the complex demonstrated the ability to perform tasks in severe frosts.
According to the press service of the Air Defense Forces, during the maneuvers, the Palantina-K equipment showed "the highest level of protection against satellite systems, weapons equipped with high-precision weapons, guidance systems and unmanned enemy aircraft."
"Needed by the troops"
According to Knutov, in addition to multifunctionality (reconnaissance and the supply of interference), the most important advantage of the Palantin-K complex is the ability to interface (create a single working network) with other electronic warfare and electronic intelligence equipment.
He recalled that in the debut exercise to cover the interspecific grouping of troops, held in the Voronezh region in September 2019, Palantin-K, in cooperation with other special equipment, suppressed the radio communication and electronic intelligence system of a mock enemy in a band about 1 thousand km wide.
“Compared to its predecessors, Palantin-K affects a wider range of enemy equipment and has a longer range.
Separately, it should be said that Palantin-K is able to integrate other electronic warfare and electronic intelligence systems into a single system, which significantly increases the power of influence on the enemy, ”Knutov emphasized.
Vehicle of the electronic warfare complex "Palantin-K" of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
© Ministry of Defense of Russia
In an interview with RT, military analyst Yuri Lyamin drew attention to the rather meager amount of open information about the characteristics of Palantin-K.
The expert explains this by the high capabilities of the new electronic warfare complex.
“This is one of the most modern of all the electronic warfare systems that the Russian army has.
In my opinion, in today's conditions, Palantin-K is definitely necessary for the troops as an effective means of combating UAVs.
Its equipment allows you to interrupt the operator’s communication with drones, making it a priori impossible to complete a combat mission, ”concluded Lyamin.