As Putin’s war in Ukraine enters its 29th month, the battlefield has transformed into a proving ground for various Western munitions and weaponry.
Designed to Resist Jamming Attempts
In a strategic move, the United States plans to produce and send new long-range smart missiles to Ukraine, designed to resist Russian jamming attempts, .
The new American Extended Range Air-to-Ground Missiles (ERAM) will be cost-effective, weighing 500 pounds (226 kg) and capable of reaching speeds of 740 km/h (Mach 0.6). These missiles will have a striking range of nearly 500 km, providing Ukraine with a significant advantage. According to Interesting Engineering, the U.S. Air Force's recent request for proposals (RFP) outlines the development of these missiles, emphasizing their importance in enhancing Ukraine's aerial capabilities.
This RFP has been sent to 16 selected companies, aiming to prototype and adapt an autonomous, modular commercial vehicle for mass production. The ERAM will be designed to function effectively even in degraded GPS environments, with a variable fuselage option and a navigation system capable of operating amidst high electromagnetic interference (EMI).
Connectivity Issues
The urgency for these new missiles arises from the effectiveness of Russian jamming systems, which have rendered some U.S. rocket launchers, like the M142 HIMARS, less effective in Ukraine. These jamming systems disrupt communication with satellites, hindering the accuracy of GPS-guided munitions. Consequently, the HIMARS, initially effective, has faced significant challenges, leading to a decreased reliance on Excalibur shells, which dropped to just 10% efficiency.
Despite these challenges, other systems such as the UK’s Storm Shadow missile and the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) have proven less susceptible to jamming. Additionally, the disruption of the Starlink satellite network by Russia has caused significant connectivity issues for Ukrainian troops, highlighting the ongoing electronic warfare between the two nations.
