Ukrainian EW expert Serhii “Flash” Bestkrestnov has published a guide to the military use of the TinySA frequency analyzer.
He also provides firmware to make the device with its many settings more accessible.
Below are some of the valuable capabilities of this device. 1/
“The state of the air” can be monitored to determine UHF radio communication frequencies to avoid. 2/
Determining the local level of EW jamming of satellite navigation frequencies for GPS or GLONASS.
Note how these systems use a number of frequency channels. 3/
The presence and intensity of local EW jamming (including friendly jammers) on the control frequency of the FPV you are about to launch. 4/
Detecting the presence of Russian fixed wing reconnaissance UAVs by their distinctive telemetry signals.
With directional antennas, multiple devices this can triangulate their position to cue a Ukrainian fighter FPV. 5/
Detecting the presence and distance (by signal strength) of nearby Russian fixed-wing kamikazes such as the formidable Lancet.
Its distinctive telemetry signal pattern is “double-horned”. 6/
And crucially, detecting the video transmission signals of nearby Russian Mavics and especially FPVs.
This is the fundamental function of a frontline drone detector. 7/
Russian sources report that Ukraine has started dropping anti-vehicle landmines on the M-14 highway between Melitopol and Mariupol.
This key logistical route to Crimea is 100–150 km from the front lines and would require fixed-wing UAVs to reach that far.
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This highway has been the primary focus of Ukraine’s sharp rise in strikes on Russian trucks using mid-range UAVs like the “Hornet.”
Landmines at operational depth on this and other routes will greatly increase pressure on Russian logistics. 2/
The Russians have recovered cassettes containing either 48 or 10 landmines of the IBM anti-vehicle/anti-personnel series.
These devices are equipped with “PDP” movement-sensitive fuzes and are powerful enough to immobilize vehicles, leaving them easy targets for strike UAVs. 3/
Serhii “Flash” clarifies new Russian tactics that combine “Geran-2” attacks on Ukrainian air defense units while another UAV simultaneously strikes the main target.
First, a “Gerbera” reconnaissance UAV studies the air defenses to determine their movements and locations. 1/
Then, a double strike is applied—one Geran-2 strikes and distracts the ground-based air defenses, while another attacks the target.
“Flash” advises using camouflage, changing to backup positions, and closely monitoring reconnaissance UAV flights.
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While the crew is engaged in targeting, the radar must be monitored closely for other UAVs nearby.
It is important not to fire too early or ineffectively, as this can prematurely reveal the defensive position. 3/
Russian blogger “Philologist in Ambush” (Svyatoslav Golikov) warns Ukraine is no longer just flooding the front with drones.
It is building an adaptive, networked strike system that is increasingly outpacing Russian EW and logistics defenses. 1/
“At the root of the sharply increased activity of Ukrainian UAVs, I see a progressive increase in the volume of deliveries of small strike drones to the troops.
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“However, the issue is not just about the increase in activity itself, but also about the effectiveness of this increased activity. For example, you can dramatically intensify offensive actions, but not achieve any significant progress and at the same time suffer heavy losses.
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Russian blogger Alexei Rogozin warns that the American company Palantir has provided Ukraine with AI tools that process vast amounts of data to integrate with and leverage long-range UAV strike capabilities. 1/
“Ukraine's long-range strikes on Russian targets cannot be viewed solely as a problem of air defense. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or missile is just the final link in the chain.
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“The main work begins earlier: reconnaissance, accumulation of digital traces, analysis of satellite and aerial photos, comparison of open and closed data, assessment of the vulnerability of objects, and review of the results of previous strikes.
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The Russians have developed a new radio reconnaissance system called the “Meshtastic-Sniffer” for detecting and analyzing Ukrainian Meshtastic/LoRa mesh networks.
Using multiple synchronized receivers, it can geolocate transmitting nodes via TDOA (Time Difference of Arrival). 1/
It is important to note that mesh networks and Meshtastic are different.
A mesh network is a general communications architecture in which devices relay data to one another without a central base station.
Meshtastic is one specific implementation that uses LoRa radio modules. 2/
The “Meshtastic-Sniffer” can exploit the security risks of poorly configured Meshtastic networks.
It passively listens to radio traffic, intercepts packets, analyzes network activity, and attempts to decrypt messages using default or weak keys.
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The sorry state of Russian surface warship construction is exemplified by the long-delayed commissioning of the small 800-ton missile ship Burya.
Laid down in December 2016 and launched in October 2018, it then sat idle for years awaiting its diesel engines. 1/
Even then, sea trials dragged on for another three-and-a-half years due to chronic engine problems.
Originally, German high-speed diesel engines had been intended, but sanctions imposed after the 2014 annexation of Crimea cut off supplies.
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Russia shifted to domestic “import substitution,” but the Zvezda factory in St. Petersburg has lacked the capacity, facilities, and supply chain to keep up with demand.
When engines have finally been delivered, they have been plagued by breakdowns and warranty disputes. 3/