Russia’s attack helicopters up their game in Ukraine

Asia Times ^

[FarCenter]

Battered in the opening phases of the Ukraine war, Russia’s attack helicopter fleet now sports new technology and tactics to blunt Ukraine’s ongoing offensive.

This month, Eurasian Times claimed that a Russian Ka-52 attack helicopter with the Vitebsk-25 countermeasures suite recently evaded 18 missiles while on a combat mission in Ukraine, jamming the missiles, completing its mission, and returning to base unharmed.

Eurasian Times states that Vitebsk-25 consists of an infrared (IR) missile tracker and laser countermeasures, augmented by a flare dispenser to blind IR missiles. It also says the system can detect and jam threats across 120 degrees azimuth and 60 degrees elevation, jamming radar frequencies from 4 to 18 gigahertz.

In describing how the system works, Eurasian Times says Vitebsk-25 operates in passive and active modes. In passive mode, the report notes that the system scans an area with radar, radar and laser warning receivers, and IR and ultraviolet (UV) sensors, dispensing chaff and flares automatically if a missile launch is detected.

In active mode, the source states that Vitebsk-25 directly engages the IR seeker head of an incoming missile, possibly blinding it by laser.

The system may also be effective against multi-mode missiles, as the source states it uses powerful jamming to disrupt radar-guided missiles, forcing them to shift into IR guidance and go after decoy flares.

[2CAVTrooper]

“This month, Eurasian Times claimed that a Russian Ka-52 attack helicopter with the Vitebsk-25 countermeasures suite recently evaded 18 missiles while on a combat mission in Ukraine, jamming the missiles, completing its mission, and returning to base unharmed.”

Yeah, right.... Is that before or after it knocked its own tail off while jettisoning it’s stores to evade ground fire?

[Boogieman]

Ok, Ukraine should just switch to old wire-guided missiles then. Can’t jam those.