Modern electronics have changed our daily lives. Also war.
In reference to my recent article, I did not emphasize the importance of EW enough—nor the relative unimportance of JASSM missiles.
For example, Occupy Schagen (see his comments on the article) suggests that Russian EW systems were responsible for downing up to 60 % of the Tomahawk missiles launched at Syria in 2017!
The usual story is that the Russians had S400s protecting their assets which were not targeted —so they did not activate these systems— leaving it to the Syrians to use S-125, S-200 Kub and Buk AD missiles – and shoot down well over 70% of the Tomahawks, despite them being, as most cruise missiles are, “stealthy”, with low RCS.
However, that was 2017!
Did the Russians use EW back then and they do now so effectively?
Schagen thinks so, They indeed might have —but if they did— they wouldn't say-- preferring to give the Syrians the victory.
Today, it is almost 2025 and Russia EW has advanced.
SCALP and Storm Shadow missiles now rarely get through anymore thanks to Russian EW, which profits from Russian engineers’ ability to analyze the electronics of NATO missiles taken down over Russian territory and develop countermeasures.
Russia is the world’s leader in EW. I am not sure if the US is the leader in very much other than the manufacture of political idiots.
If the Russians can not down Storm Shadows and SCALP missiles—not mention HIMARS and ATACMS— they can do the same with Tomahawks – and of course with JASSM missiles
Much is being made of the “Stealth” properties of JASSM . That's partly advertising for the companies that make them— and hope to sell them to countries like Japan.
But the Mainstream Media clearly does not understand “Stealth” — which is really an advertising meme.
Nor “EW”. Nor the newest generation of radar technologies. Certainly not anything Russian
They still push the line that the F 35 and F 22 are invulnerable!
Not!
The Russians have a lot of experience with both kinds of aircraft in Syria— and can track them while the same time blinding their all-important electronics.
Modern active-radar homing missiles fly most of their path while using inertial navigation; they receive updates on target coordinates from fire control of launch aircraft or ground unit. Can L-band radar provide such coordinates? Yes it can, with margin of error, but good enough to guide the missile close to the target.
Then, at terminal stage, ARH missile switches on its own radar. Here you should remember that stealth aircraft has reduced, but still existing visibility. At very close distances, below 25–30km, even smaller radar of ARH missile will be able to lock on it.
AntiStealth radar systems are expensive-- at least for foreign countries with their diminished industrial base--but the Russians have already implemented them in the Ukraine and border regions of Russia. On the average it costs them about one third to produce almost any military item, compared to the US or the UK. Moreover their stuff actually works-- which is something you can't say for the Western Collective.
In war, no offensive or defensive technology is 100% effective of course. Still, they have the edge.
Gilbert Doctorow thinks it JASSM missiles are big deal—that Russians might actually use nuclear weapons to knock out F-16 sites in the event that these missiles are given to the Ukrainians. Berletic disagrees and I do too.
This nuke narrative is a story going around the Russian blogosphere but unlikely to be true. It will be no more difficult to deal with JAASM missiles than with with French or British missiles which also have to be air launched.
The F-16 is not a “game changer”. Nor is the JASSM. But they are escalatory, and American involvement in the war with Ukraine is getting ever more direct —coming ever closer to casus belli.
Chappy Time…
Here’s Chappy.
The notch in his ear means he has been neutered and was returned to the street. His tape worm is of a kind that feral cats get from eating frogs, lizards, and snakes. Not contagious but hard to get rid of.
Ichi’s bestie, Jet spent a couple of months in the vet’ getting rid of his as a kitten.
Chappy is cat-centric. He is shy around people. Doesn’t do hugs. Some cats so. Some don’t. Ichi, for example, LOVES hugs — from girls most of all. Yes, cats distinguish male and female!
I don’t want Ichi & Chappy to compete for my affection I want to see Ichi and Chappy bond. For me and Chappy to bond will happen eventually in its own good time and according to Chappy’s druthers.
Rescuing Chappy…I feel I am doing something good.
Tentative title for the new Special Report — “End Times”. I am sure you are familiar with Fukuyama’s “end of history” idea - much quoted, little understood—even by Fukuyama himself . And not that original since it reprised Hegel.
Before the end of Time will be the end of History. Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel
Click here or on Cappy’s photo to donate a coffee to the Chappy Fund or support my writing.
End Times, indeed! Where will YOU be on Judgment Day?
Plus, the F-35 has somewhat questionable 'ability' where US can deny it from doing anything, each time F-35 owned by someone else than US forces takes off, it has to be 'approved' from MacDill AFB, Tampa, Florida, or you are not flying anywhere...
Don't know how that works exactly, but maybe the Russians could disturb that approval and those expensive pieces become scrap metal. (probably at least until you switch up some component)
Thank you for this Weapon-technical update.
I have been too deep in the political part of Geopolitics lately i think...
Sander