Parts for homemade electronic warfare cost an engineer about $1000-$1500, depending on the configuration.
A Ukrainian serviceman with a pseudonym Sergey Flash creates portable electronic warfare systems. He shared his experience on his Facebook page.
To assemble an electronic warfare complex, three main components are needed: jamming blocks, a power supply system and antennas. In general, everything is quite simple: the interference block is attached to the radiator with paste or glue, adjusted with a dielectric screwdriver, and then connected to the SMA type antenna and power supply system using wires. All parts will cost about $1000-$1500, depending on the configuration.
“The task of the electronic warfare developer is more “mechanical”: to assemble the blocks, put the modules on the radiators, make airflow, connect the battery and converters,” said Sergey Flash. He also spoke in detail about each stage.
How trench EW works
The most important part of homemade electronic warfare systems, and here it is necessary to pay attention to whether the real power matches the declared one – this affects the quality of UAV suppression. For example, the latest DJI drones have a high pseudo-random frequency hopping density (PRFC), so cheap jammers may not work against them. It is also worth always adding the ability to turn off GPS jamming so as not to accidentally shoot down allied drones.
Photo: Facebook
Photo: Facebook
Frequency ranges of homemade electronic warfare
There are several frequency bands on which the UAV operates, and each of them will require a separate unit and antenna to suppress. Sergei Flash called the basic ranges that must be “jammed” at the forefront: 1.5 GHz (navigation);
2.4GHz (control); and 5.8GHz (control). There is also a 5.1 GHz band, which is rarely used.
Precise Drone Jamming Frequencies:
1550-1620 (GPS L1); 1220-1260850-930 (GPS L2: FPV drones, Orlans, Elerons); 970-1020 (new Orlans); 2400-2585 (all drones); 5150- 5300 (part of Habson drones, new Autel) 5725-5850 (all drones).
output power
There are options for blocks from 5W to 100W, and the higher the power, the more difficult it is to power them from the battery, besides, the device heats up faster. Anti-drone guns typically use 10W units and run on heatsinks, while 20W and higher versions require a fan.
Power supply
All units are designed for 28 V. The expert warned that it is not necessary to connect 24 V, since in this case the power will drop by about 20%, and with it the drone suppression efficiency.
EW power supply system
The design of the complex largely depends on whether it will be powered only from a battery or also from a 220 V socket. There are three options for solving the problem: take a 28 V battery; use DC converters; use a power supply with conversion from 220V to 28V.
“I personally like the idea of tying up to 12 volts so that you can connect the RB banal to any car battery or car. Therefore, I would use 12-28 volt converters. And a 220 power supply immediately 28 or 220 to 12 volts,” Sergey noted.
Photo: Facebook
Antennas for EW system
To operate the device in gun mode, directional antennas are required, and in dome mode, circular ones. In the case of directional ones, you can make wave channels or log-periodic antennas by connecting them directly to the board. This option works well with 10-20 W units, it is only important to keep a distance of at least 8 cm between the antenna planes. External antennas from WiFi radio bridges with a range of 2.4 and 5.8 GHz are also suitable.
Photo: Facebook
For the “dome” you need to get vertical collinear whip antennas that have a good strengthening factor in a circular plane with a dip exactly at the zenith (up), which does not really interfere with closing the sky, since drones always fly up from the side. The specialist also recommends the use of clover antennas. From the module connector to the antenna, it will be necessary to make cable adapters. The cable can be used for RG316, RG178.
Earlier, Sergey Flash drew attention to the fact that Russian troops are actively using “trench” electronic warfare and suppressing Ukrainian drones. He decided to make such a device himself.
