Many lessons can be learned from the armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Apart from the 'awakening' of anti-tank weapons, MANPADS missiles and kamikaze drones, it cannot be ruled out that the magnitude of electronic warfare is being carried out by the two camps. And regarding the electronic warfare element from Russia, there is one that seems to have been overlooked, namely the Mi-8MTPR-1 helicopter.
Although his name is not mentioned, the Mi-8MTPR, whose figure is nothing more than a military transport helicopter, in fact plays a key role, especially for jamming the Ukrainian air defense system.
The Mi-8MTPR-1 is an upgraded version of the standard Mi-8MTV-5-1 equipped with Rychag-AV electronic warfare equipment. Manufactured by Kazan, internally this helicopter is codenamed Mi-8MTV-5PR. There is a “PR” label referring to the Pomekhovyi Rychag, which is the helicopter jammer system that complements the Rychag system.
Quoted from eurasiantimes.com (12/10/2022), the use of this helicopter in the Ukraine war was only discovered by a photo released by the Russian Ministry of Defense. A photo was posted on the Fighter-bomber Telegram channel on October 3, 2022, and shows the Mi-8MTPR-1 electronic warfare specialist helicopter in the background.
To complete the jamming mission against Ukraine, the helicopter flew at an altitude of more than 10,000 feet (3,048 meters) inside Russian-controlled territory to avoid enemy fire. The pilot admitted that Richag could suppress air defense capabilities of all types in the border region, including Western analogue systems and old Soviet systems.
Rychag-AV System
The Kazan Optical and Mechanical Plant (KOMZ), a division of Radio-Electronic Technologies Concern, manufactures and installs the Rychag-AV system on helicopters. The system is integrated into warship helicopters, and other military platforms such as aircraft and ground vehicles.
This electronic warfare system can interfere with sophisticated sensor systems from a distance of 100 kilometers. This system uses a multi-beam antenna array with DRFM [Digital Radio Frequency Memory] to counter radio frequency based weapon systems. It is also possible to carry out radar-based intelligence gathering with Rychag-AV. This technology can instantly assess the type of radar being targeted and the best approach to stopping it using the onboard database.
The cargo/passenger compartment is usually separated into two sections on the Mi-8MTPR-1. The wider rear houses the Rychag-AV system hardware, while the smaller front houses the system operator station.
The system's four antennas are placed on each side of the fuselage. The two front antennas serve as receivers/directional finder, detecting enemy radar and determining its nature and location. The two rear antennas are transmitters that produce radiation for jamming on visible radar.
According to the program, the Rychag-AV system can operate independently without operator intervention. It uses a database of enemy radar records to find the right jamming strategy. In semi-automatic mode, the operator chooses a jamming technique, while in manual mode, the operator analyzes the overall electromagnetic conditions and selects the target to block.
The first two Mi-8MTPR-1 test helicopters were built from the old Mi-8 airframe. The helicopters, designated as '61' and '62,' began testing around 2010. In September 2013, the Kazan Optical Mechanics Factory (KOMZ), purportedly received a production contract requiring the delivery of 18 production units.
The Mi-8MTPR-1 with Rychag-AV entered Russian military service in 2016. There are currently about 20 Mi-8MTPR-1 units in the Russian Aerospace Forces and are divided among the various Army Aviation Brigades (BrAA).
Overall, the helicopter is claimed to be able to interfere with the operation of any radar within its range and is capable of selective jamming to prevent interference with its own (or allied) radars operating within the jammed sector.
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