In recent years, the war between Ukraine and Russia has not only been a traditional military confrontation, but also a contest of technology and electronic warfare. In this conflict, GPS jamming has become an important factor affecting the performance of weapon systems.cell phone jammer The Joint Direct Attack Munition Extended Range (JDAM-ER) precision-guided bombs introduced by Ukraine from the United States were once highly anticipated, but Russia's electronic warfare jamming system made these smart bombs lose their expected effects. signal jammer In response to this challenge, the United States quickly took action to enhance the capabilities of JDAM-ER by purchasing a new seeker system, enabling it to directly target Russia's GPS jammer s.
Principle and use background of JDAM-ER
The basic working principle of the JDAM-ER system is to upgrade ordinary free-fall bombs to precision-guided munitions. Wifi jammer It is guided by GPS signals and can adjust its trajectory during flight to achieve precise strikes on targets. The JDAM-ER munition is also equipped with a wing kit that allows it to fly longer distances, with a maximum range of up to 45 miles (about 72 kilometers).drone jammer This allows the Ukrainian Air Force to use Soviet-era fighters such as the Su-24, Su-27 and MiG-29 Fulcrum fighters to carry JDAM-ER to strike key Russian targets. GSM jammer
The impact of electronic warfare interference on JDAM-ER
While JDAM-ER was initially successful on the Ukrainian battlefield and hit some key Russian targets, this advantage was quickly offset by the Russian military's electronic warfare technology. In just a few weeks, Russia deployed powerful GPS jammers that greatly reduced the JDAM-ER's precision strike capability. According to leaked Pentagon documents, Russian electronic warfare equipment such as the R-330Zh Zhitel transmits jamming signals in the 1.164GHz to 1.575GHz frequency band used by JDAM, preventing these bombs from obtaining sufficient GPS data and thus deviating from their intended targets.
This interference does not directly cause the JDAM-ER bomb to fail, but it weakens its accuracy, which in turn affects its effectiveness on the battlefield. GPS guidance is the key to the success of the JDAM system, and when Russia deploys electronic warfare jammers, the advantages of JDAM-ER cannot be fully utilized. US analysis believes that unless the jammers are eliminated first, the attack capability of JDAM-ER will be greatly limited.
US Improvement Plan: Home-on-Jam Technology
In response to Russian interference, the United States quickly took technical improvement measures. On May 3, 2024, the Pentagon announced that it had signed a contract worth more than $23 million with the Science Applications and Research Association (SARA) to purchase a "Home-on GPS Jamming Seeker" and integrate it into the existing JDAM-ER system. This new seeker is designed to enable JDAM-ER to directly target and destroy enemy GPS jammers, thereby removing interference from Ukrainian operations.
Home-on-Jam technology is not a new concept. As early as 2014, SARA, in cooperation with the US Air Force, began to develop a seeker system that can automatically track jammers. This system has been tested on a variety of weapon platforms, demonstrating its potential for application in complex battlefield environments. In 2020, the U.S. Air Force also tested this technology on the GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bomb (SDB), proving its effectiveness against electronic warfare.
With the application of Home-on-Jam technology, Ukraine is expected to regain its advantage against Russian electronic warfare. JDAM-ER's improved ability to destroy enemy jammers means that the Ukrainian Air Force will be able to strike key Russian targets more accurately, especially strategic facilities on the front and rear of the battlefield. This improvement will not only improve the battlefield effectiveness of JDAM-ER, but also provide valuable experience for the future development of precision-guided munitions.
