MAGAZINE
2022
RUSSIAN ARMED FORCES ELECTRONIC WARFARE CAPABILITIES
“ All warfare is based on deception . Hence , when we are able to attack , we must seem unable ; when using our forces , we must appear inactive ; when we are near , we must make the enemy believe we are far away ; when far away , we must make him believe we are near ." 1
16
By LANDCOM G2
Although electronic warfare ( EW ) originated from a much earlier era , with different ways of conducting warfare , EW has long been an integral part of warfare activities of the Russian Federation . Students of Russian strategy and doctrine must understand the centrality of EW into Russian planning efforts , and the capability Russia employs within the electromagnetic spectrum on the modern battlefield .
The history of EW is almost as old as Marconi ’ s2 invention of wireless radio communications in 1896 , whilst the idea of creating interference and disrupting the operation of radio communication lines with electromagnetic waves was first expressed by the inventor of the radio , Alexander Popov3 . Since the beginning of the 20th century , EW has been developed in all armies since the beginning of the 20th century , including the armed forces of the Soviet Union and Russia , and it is constituted as one of the key pillars of their military strength .
The earliest known use of electromagnetic energy as a kind of " weapon " to conduct electronic suppression , took place in the Russo-Japanese War ( 8 February 1904 – 5 September 1905 ). The Japanese armed merchant cruiser ( AMC ), “ SHINANO MARU ” was communicating its location ( by wireless radio ) in the Tsushima Strait , to the Imperial Japanese Fleet HQ at Mesampo Bay , Korea , when it was located by the Russian Fleet . The commander of the Russian warship “ URAL ”, having discovered the Japanese radio transmissions , requested to the squadron commander permission