High-tech weapon from the USA
Russian jamming attacks hinder Ukraine’s GLSDB ammunition
24.05.2024, 21:57
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With US GLSDB ammunition, Ukraine has a high-tech weapon. But on the battlefield, the rocket bombs do not have the desired effect. The reason for this is the effective defensive measures taken by the Russian armed forces.
According to a media report, Russia’s electronic warfare is hindering the use of US long-range GLSDB missiles in Ukraine. The Reuters news agency reported this, citing three people familiar with the matter. According to the report, Russian jammers often prevent the GLSDB ammunition supplied by Washington to Kiev from hitting its intended target.
According to Reuters, Ukraine has been using GLSDB missiles since the beginning of the year, although many military experts believe that the weapon has not proven effective due to Russian countermeasures. The acronym GLSDB stands for Ground Launched Small Diameter Bomb (roughly: ground-based bomb with a small diameter). The weapon essentially consists of two components: a bomb with a warhead and fold-out wings from the aviation company Boeing and a launch system with which the special ammunition can be fired from the ground, from the Swedish arms company Saab.
The manufacturers say the range of the winged bomb missile is up to 150 kilometers. The missiles are designed to be able to destroy bunkered command posts, radar systems, gun positions or ammunition depots deep in the rear of the front with pinpoint accuracy. However, according to Reuters, the weapon’s internal navigation system is often the target of Russian jamming attacks. Boeing advertises that the GLSDB missiles also have mechanisms to prevent so-called jamming. But these are apparently not sufficient. One of the sources told Reuters that Boeing would need months to fix the problem.
Jamming involves broadcasting large amounts of data into an area to override a device’s signal. Russia uses this tactic against Ukrainian radios, drones, and even the GPS-guided 155-millimeter Excalibur artillery round.