In the previous blog post, we explored how drone jamming technology impacts at-risk locations. In this blog post, we will look at how jamming impacts military technology.
What is radio frequency jamming?
RF jamming is a broad term that emits radio frequencies to block target RF signals. It includes voice radio jamming, computer data signal jamming, and radar jamming.
- Voice radio (like two-way radios, walkie-talkies, or communication systems in vehicles) operates on specific RF bands. RF jamming emits noise or powerful signals to match or overlap the target signals.
- Radar jamming can be simple broadband jamming of a frequency or a frequency band, or it could be deceptive signals such as range-gate stealers or range or angle deception jamming.
- Computer Data Signal Jamming: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and other wireless data signals rely on RF communication to transmit data between devices. RF jamming can target these communication channels by transmitting noise or interference over the same frequency ranges (such as 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz used by Wi-Fi).
How RF Jamming Works?
1. Signal Overpowering:
Jammers emit high-powered noise (e.g., random signals, pulses, or waveforms) on specific frequencies to overwhelm legitimate signals.
Example: A jammer targeting GPS (1.575 GHz) floods the frequency band, making receivers unable to detect satellite signals.
2. Frequency Targeting:
- Narrowband Jamming: Focuses on a single frequency (e.g., disrupting a specific enemy radio channel).
- Broadband Jamming: Rapidly shifts across a range of frequencies.
- Barrage Jamming: Covers a wide frequency band (e.g., disrupting all communications in the 2–8 GHz range).
- Spoofing jamming: emits false GPS signals that imitate authentic satellite signals, leading the receiver to compute an inaccurate position, time, or velocity.
- Noise Jamming: This generates random noise signals that interfere with the targeted RF communication, making it difficult for the receiving system to detect and decode the intended signal.
3. Modulation Techniques:
Advanced jammers use Digital Radio Frequency Memory (DRFM) to record, replicate, and retransmit altered enemy signals. Thus, it will create confusion for drones.
How does it impact military technology?
- Communication Systems: RF jamming can block military communications between troops, vehicles, and command centers.
- Navigation (GPS): RF jamming can block or spoof GPS signals, causing the target to lose its navigation function.
- Radar systems: Spoofing jamming can confuse radar systems by sending false echoes or signals, making it difficult to track real threats.
In the next blog post, we will dive into the drone radio frequency jammers and 12 applications of drone jammers.