How Ukraine learned to redirect Iranian Shaheds back to Russia and Belarus: analysis by Le Monde and experts

Ukraine's electronic warfare systems are striking in their ingenuity. Against the backdrop of the largest drone attack on Ukrainian territory (188 Shaheds and 4 Iskander missiles), electronic warfare systems were able to not only shoot down drones, but also redirect them back towards Russia and Belarus.

This unique approach is made possible thanks to technological innovations, which the publication emphasizes Le Monde and Ukrainian experts.

On the night of the largest attack, Russian troops used 188 Shahed kamikaze drones and Iskander-M ballistic missiles.

However, of these, only 17 drones reached their targets, and 95 were redirected using electronic warfare technology.

The effectiveness of Ukrainian air defense in numbers:

Source: Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

“The effectiveness of Ukrainian air defense has reached about 90%, which undermines the Kremlin’s strategy of exhausting Ukraine’s resources with drones,” – the article says Le Monde.

How does Ukraine redirect Shaheds?

Ukrainian military analyst Alexander Kovalenko explainedhow exactly electronic warfare systems work. According to him, the Shaheds are controlled through satellite coordinates or in real time using cameras and Starlinks.

The main mechanisms of influence of Ukrainian electronic warfare:

1. Suppression of communication channels between the drone and the operator.
   • When communication is lost, Shahed can automatically switch to a return route.
2. Interception of control.
   • The Ukrainian system sends new coordinates to the drone, redirecting it towards the Russian Federation or Belarus.
3. Automatic reorientation to “safe” directions.
   • If communication is lost, the drone moves north, where Russian or Belarusian territories are located.

“When losing contact with the operator, Shaheds can automatically switch to the northern direction. And north of Ukraine is Belarus,” — comments Kovalenko.

What does this breakthrough mean for Russia?

These Ukrainian actions have serious implications for Russian strategy:

• Weakening of the resource of the Russian Federation:

  Each Shahed drone costs about $20,000. Redirecting them back creates additional costs and difficulties for the Russian army.

• The growth of the symbolic meaning of Ukrainian technologies:

  Ukraine shows the ability not only to defend itself, but also to use offensive technologies in a hybrid war.

• Undermining the reputation of Russian weapons systems:

  The inability to defend against electronic warfare indicates that Russian troops are insufficiently prepared for modern threats.

“If Ukraine can use Iranian drones against Russia, that's a game changer,” – writes Le Monde.

Israeli Opinion: New Horizons for Defense

For an Israeli audience, this Ukrainian experience may be especially interesting. Israel, as a country with a developed air defense and electronic warfare system, can adopt some of Ukraine’s approaches.

“The experience of Ukraine shows how technology can compensate for the enemy’s numerical advantage,” – notes NAnews – Israel News.

Parallels with the Israeli defense system:

• The use of electronic warfare systems in addition to the Iron Dome.
• Focus on destroying drones and taking control of them.

Ukraine and Israel: a common view of defense

The connection between Ukraine and Israel is strengthening both in the context of technological cooperation and in the moral aspect. Israel's experience in countering missile attacks echoes Ukraine's efforts to defend against drones.

“Modern warfare requires not only courageous soldiers, but also advanced technologies,” – the article says NAnews – Israel News.

Conclusion: What's next?

The Ukrainian Army has shown the world that innovation and creativity can change the rules of the game even in the most complex conflicts. The ability to redirect drones threatens the Kremlin's plans and could become the basis for new approaches to protecting airspace.

“Ukraine provides an example of how to defend your freedom, even when the enemy's resources exceed yours,” — the article summarizes Le Monde.

Read more on our website: NAnews – Israel News.