On Monday, during his visit to London, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet with new Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who, according to several media outlets, is expected to grant Ukraine a license for the mass production of the electronic warfare (EW) system Stone Cloak.
Thousands of these transmitters, measuring approximately 20-30 centimeters, have already been delivered to Ukraine and have demonstrated their effectiveness on the battlefield. The Ukrainian military employs them on drones and cruise missiles to disrupt the operation of Russian air defense systems.
The Stone Cloak system can disable the “guidance beam” (ledstråle)—a type of radio wave corridor used by advanced Russian anti-aircraft missiles for target guidance, explains Johan Huvinen, a lecturer in military strategy at the Swedish Defense University.
“The British system creates interference at the final stage of the strike. It is probably not very powerful, as it only disrupts the missile’s guidance beam within approximately 50 meters,” he says. If successful jamming occurs, the anti-aircraft missile exits the guidance beam and self-destructs, ascending and exploding within five to ten seconds due to a built-in self-destruction mechanism.
Possible Russian response and advantages for Britain
Russia may alter the frequency of the guidance beam to prevent its anti-aircraft missiles from being disabled. However, according to Johan Huvinen, British EW systems can quickly adapt to the new frequency. Since the Russians lack laser air defense systems, they will likely have to rely more on anti-aircraft artillery, including automatic guns, he added.
The Stone Cloak system will be integrated into several new weapon systems, including low-cost cruise missiles that the British are developing for Ukraine as part of the Brakestop project, reports The Telegraph. “Stone Cloak is an excellent example of British innovation that has proven its value in combat conditions and will play a crucial role in the security of both our countries,” stated Andy Burnham prior to his meeting with the Ukrainian leader.
British military officials told The Telegraph that transferring the license to Ukraine will also enhance Britain’s defense capabilities. The British Army will gain insights into the system’s effectiveness, which will inform the development of the next generation of electronic warfare tools.
Importance of cost and effectiveness
In a conflict where drones are used almost continuously, the cost of each munition is critical. Both Russia and Ukraine are actively investing in the mass production of inexpensive drones. Although installing each interference transmitter increases costs, “if Ukraine launches 300 drones every other evening, it requires additional resources but can also yield better results and increase the effectiveness of strikes,” notes Johan Huvinen.
In recent months, Ukrainian military forces have successfully conducted long-range strikes, with many drones reaching targets deep within Russian territory. However, a significant number are still being shot down, prompting the Kremlin to urge its defense industry to ramp up production of air defense systems. Reports from the Ukrainian news site Militarnyi indicate that 24 new towers for the “Pantsir” systems have been constructed around Moscow.
Source: Dagens Nyheter
