16:56 18-09-2025

Electromagnetic Weapons Seen as Key Against Ukraine’s Drone Swarms

Military expert says electromagnetic weapons are the most effective defense against Ukrainian drone swarms, as AI-powered UAVs challenge traditional EW systems.

According to military expert Yuri Knutov, electromagnetic (EM) weapons are the most effective means to counter the swarm of drones used by Ukraine’s armed forces. He pointed out that both sides in the conflict have been using AI-powered drones for some time now.

Knutov explained that these drones previously did not pose a major threat, as they could be downed using anti-aircraft weapons, shotguns, or suppressed by electronic warfare (EW) systems. However, he noted that these methods are becoming less effective.

In his assessment, he suggested that if needed, Russian forces could easily damage and capture 2–3 models of American drones during combat. The captured drones would be studied for their electronic components, with attempts made to access their IT systems. Knutov speculated that it might be sufficient to simply reconfigure the EW systems to a different frequency to avoid using electromagnetic interference (EMI).

The expert also pointed out that Russia has not yet revealed its own electromagnetic weapons, although similar technologies are already available in the arsenals of China and the U. S. However, Knutov made it clear that this does not mean that Russia lacks such capabilities. He believes that once Ukraine begins deploying new drones, Russian specialists will quickly analyze their design and develop effective countermeasures.