S.I. Makarenko1, I.E. Afonin2, M.S. Ivanov3

1 Bonch-Bruevich Saint Petersburg State University of Telecommunications (Saint Petersburg, Russia)

2 Krasnodar Higher Military School of Pilots (Krasnodar, Russia)

3 Military Training and Research Center of the Air Force «Air Force Academy named after Professor N.E. Zhukovsky and Yu. A. Gagarin» (Voronezh, Russia)

1 mak-serg@yandex.ru, 2 ilyaafonin@yandex.ru, 3 point_break@rambler.ru

There have been reports of unauthorized use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in highly controlled areas (airports, military installations, against critical industrial infrastructure) in the media since the mid-2000s. Nowadays, small UAVs are widely used for unauthorized surveillance of important objects, conducting terrorist attacks and sabotage, carrying prohibited goods (weapons, drugs), as well as for military purposes. For this reason, the problem of countering UAVs, and especially small UAVs, has become extremely relevant. Analysis of publications in this area has shown a small number of serious studies on this topic. There are often too optimistic conclusions about the effectiveness of existing air defense systems for countering all types of UAVs in many papers. However, the problem of countering UAVs, and especially small UAVs, is highly complex, multi-faceted, and has not been solved yet.

The purpose of this paper is to systematize and analyze various ways and means of countering UAVs, as well as to form general directions for effective solution of the problem. The material presented in the paper focuses on the analysis of the capabilities of air defense means to physical countering UAVs.

The results of systematization and analysis of various methods and means of countering UAVs, which are based on physical interception, are presented in the article. This systematization is based on more than 60 open sources. The analysis of the sources show the main features of the UAV as an object of destruction and made possible a detailed multi-aspect analysis of modern air defense systems, their effectiveness and disadvantage. Suggestions for improving the effectiveness of the air defense systems what are used against UAVs are also summarized in this paper.

Elements of the novelty of the paper are the general features of the detection and destruction of UAVs as well as systemic disadvantage in technological solutions of the air defense systems which lead to a decrease in their combat effectiveness when they are used against UAVs. The material of the paper can be used to generate initial data for modeling and studying the combat effectiveness of the air defense systems when countering UAVs. This article can be useful for designers who design countering UAV systems as well.

Makarenko S.I., Afonin I.E., Ivanov M.S. Unmanned aerial vehicle as an air defense target. Achievements of modern radioelectronics. 2024. V. 78. № 5. P. 48–59. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18127/j20700784-202405-07 [in Russian]

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