Since their introduction in 1995, drones have now become a main point of future warfare. Currently for military purposes, electronic jammers fitted on drones can be used to disrupt enemy drones on the battlefield. Drones can also be fitted with cellular disruption technology (jammers) to do a number of things, including calling in an air strike or preventing a call for reinforcements from the enemy.

In Russia, cellular jammers have been in use for quite some time. Center for Naval Analyses research analyst Samuel Bendett states that the country has recently expanded on their drone network jamming technology to cover about a hundred kilometers.  Bendett explains how these drones work: “The jammer drones work in tandem; one is equipped with signal, visual, and communications tech, while the other jams the signals.” Furthermore, the analyst says that the Leer-3 system has been in effect for a few years now, with the system’s disruption range getting a significant upgrade. The drones used in the system are Orlan-10 drones, with ranges of up to 75 miles. With the new jammer technology, the system’s jamming capability is increased for up to 135 miles, starting from the drone’s launchpad.

Bendett has revealed that the drone pods and their jamming technology has been seen in real warfare. In one instance, a Ukranian scouting report mentioned sighting the Leer-3 system in eastern Ukraine. In another, it was believed that the drones were used during Syrian conflicts. The Center for Naval Analyses researcher states that Russian personnel are being trained to handle Leer-3 type drones, doing cell communication suppression and adversary signal exercises in order to identify and eliminate enemy forces. This type of training is a mandatory program across the Russian military forces, especially for those who specialize in electronic warfare.  It’s easy to see how disruptive jamming weapons can be, given our reliance on network-based platforms for everyday life (such as cell phones, wifi, and more).