At the military parade commemorating the 70th anniversary of the start of the Algerian Revolution, the Military showcased it’s Russian anti-drone defense system Repellent 1.
The Russian anti-drone defense system Repellent 1, which was deployed for the first time to protect the parade venue and guests.
Repellent 1 was developed by the Russian Scientific and Technical Center for Electronic Combat. It is installed on the chassis of MAZ (MAZ-6317) or KAMAZ depending on the customers requirements.
Repellent-1 is a Russian electronic warfare system designed to suppress the operation of unmanned aerial vehicles at a distance of up to 30 to 35 km (19 to 22 mi). Based on a Kamaz chassis, it is equipped with a radar that can detect drones, including micro drones.
Detecting and Jamming UAVs with the Repellent-1 C-UAS
According to a Russian manual, the Repellent-1 C-UAS (Counter-Unmanned Aerial System) detects unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) through their radio frequency (RF) links. These links connect the UAV to its Ground Control Station (GCS), allowing commands to be sent to the UAV and enabling the transmission of imagery and information gathered by the UAV to the ground station. These RF links typically operate on frequencies of 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz.
Additionally, UAVs rely on RF links to receive Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) navigation signals on frequencies ranging from 1.1GHz to 1.6GHz. Frequencies in the range of approximately 900MHz to 5.8GHz are used to transmit video imagery to the GCS or other users on the ground. The Repellent-1’s jamming system is theoretically capable of engaging all these links.
Dr. Thomas Withington – Military Radar, Communications, Electronic Warfare expert, Associate Fellow, Royal United Services Institute, explains that the Repellent-1 can detect and jam signals on frequencies between 200MHz and 6GHz, with jamming power ranging from 200 watts to one kilowatt. According to the literature, a UAV’s RF signals can be attacked at ranges of up to 19 nautical miles (35 kilometers). The system is capable of jamming up to twelve UAVs simultaneously. The documentation also states that the Repellent-1 can detect and jam a UAV within 25 seconds.
The development of “Repellent-1” was completed in 2016 and the system shown at an exhibition in Moscow, and other defense exhibitions.
The system has been successfully deployed in combat during the Armenian-Azerbaijani border conflict, and current Russia-Ukraine war.
The proliferation of drone technology across Africa has significantly expanded humanitarian, and military operations, although, still an emerging technology in the continent, however, in the hands of non-state armed groups, they pose a significant threat.
As drones become increasingly accessible and affordable, their usage has grown exponentially across the African continent. While drones have numerous beneficial applications, such as in agriculture, infrastructure monitoring, and disaster response, they are also being employed by non-state actors for illicit activities, posing significant security challenges. Non-state actors, including insurgent groups, terrorists, and criminal organizations, have been leveraging drones for reconnaissance, surveillance, and weapon delivery purposes. Despite the growing threat posed by drones in Africa, many African militaries are falling short in fielding adequate counter-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) solutions, leaving security forces vulnerable to emerging threats.
Meanwhile, Russia and Egypt have agreed to cooperate on the licensed production of Russian civilian anti-drone systems called Zashchita (Protection) at the Egypt Defence Expo (EDEX) 2023, which is held in Cairo from December 4 to 7.