US Weapons Failing Against Russian Electronic Warfare in Ukraine

Russian military jamming technology is rendering many high-tech American weapons systems in Ukraine ineffective, severely weakening Ukraine's defense capabilities. This interference affects the guidance systems of advanced Western weapons like Excalibur GPS-guided artillery shells and the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS). Consequently, Kyiv is urgently seeking upgrades from the Pentagon and arms manufacturers.

The success rate of U.S.-designed Excalibur shells has plummeted to less than 10 percent, prompting Ukraine's military to abandon their use last year, according to confidential assessments. Six months ago, Washington halted the supply of Excalibur shells due to their high failure rate, as reported anonymously by Ukrainian officials. However, for other weapons like aircraft-dropped JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition) bombs, manufacturers have provided fixes to ensure their continued battlefield use.

Russian electronic warfare systems and air defenses pose significant threats to Ukrainian pilots, with some jammers disrupting navigation systems. Analysts warn that Russian defenses are so dense that Ukrainian pilots feel constantly targeted.

Initially, HIMARS launchers successfully struck enemy ammunition depots and command points, but they became ineffective in the second year of the invasion due to Russian electronic warfare disabling satellite signals. This led to expensive shells being increasingly used for lower-priority targets, according to a senior Ukrainian military official.

A new ground-launched version of an air-to-ground weapon, rapidly developed for Ukraine, also failed due to Russian electromagnetic warfare, according to Bill LaPlante, the Pentagon’s acquisition chief. LaPlante suggested that Ukraine might no longer be interested in the weapon, likely the Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB). The GLSDB, with a range of 90 miles, was approved for funding in February 2023 and reportedly used by February, but its effectiveness has been compromised by Russian jamming.

Russian GPS spoofers send false location data to GPS navigation devices, overriding correct signals with stronger, false ones. These spoofers can be cheaply created with a software-defined radio and open-source software. Meanwhile, the weapons they counter are costly: a GMLRS (Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System) missile costs around $160,000, an Excalibur round up to $100,000, and a GLSDB around $40,000.

The military-industrial complex has turned Russia's special military operation in Ukraine into a testing ground for its latest arms, which had never faced adversaries capable of matching their capabilities, such as Moscow's GPS jamming technology. The conflict is providing valuable real-world data on how U.S. precision weapons perform under modern threats like electronic warfare. This intelligence builds on years of research and discussions among U.S. defense companies and Pentagon officials about the impact of electronic warfare and ways to adapt. The Pentagon is exploring options such as narrower signal bands and stronger signals to counter jamming attempts.

Doug Bush, the Army's acquisition chief, noted the constant cycle of innovation, with both sides developing countermeasures to each other's advancements. The U.S. Air Force recently announced a contract to enhance JDAMs with add-on seekers to resist jamming and target the source of the jamming.

Efforts to adapt precision weapons to electronic warfare threats are part of a broader strategy. Establishing electromagnetic superiority in future conflicts will be crucial to prevent enemies from interfering with U.S. weapons. As the U.S. and Ukraine learn from the current conflict and adapt, the cycle of innovation and countermeasures will continue.