Ukrainian military forces have reportedly captured a Russian “Volnorez” electronic warfare system in the Kursk region, complete with documentation that could potentially reveal its technical specifications.
According to Militarniy, the “Volnorez” system, still in its factory packaging when found, is designed to create a protective dome around military assets, particularly tanks, shielding them from drone attacks. This system first emerged within Russian military units in the fall of last year, specifically engineered to combat FPV (First-Person View) drones, which have become a critical tool in modern warfare.
Russian forces have kept the technical details of the “Volnorez” system under wraps, but the captured documentation may provide Ukrainian experts with insights into its capabilities. The system works by disrupting the connection between an incoming drone and its control station, causing the drone to lose its flight path and allowing the protected vehicle to avoid being hit.
“Upon activation, the ‘Volnorez’ system is intended to sever the link between the drone and its operator, leading the drone to veer off course,” Militarniy reported. This technology is particularly effective against improvised FPV drones, which, when they lose signal, typically crash to the ground, rendering them ineffective.
However, more advanced civilian drones, such as the Mavic 3, which are also used by both sides in the conflict, react differently. These drones are programmed to hover in place or return to their launch point if they lose signal, making them less susceptible to the “Volnorez” system’s interference.
The capture of the “Volnorez” system could provide Ukraine with valuable information on Russian electronic warfare capabilities, potentially enabling Ukrainian forces to develop countermeasures or improve their own defense technologies.