Ukrainian forces destroy rare Russian "Palantin" electronic warfare system

The Special Operations Forces of Ukraine have reported that the Russians used the electronic warfare system "Palantin" to conduct radio-electronic intelligence and disrupt Ukrainian communication systems in the Zaporizhzhia region. The equipment was detected during a reconnaissance mission. Ukrainian special forces relayed information about its location, which was then targeted by units operating the HIMARS system. Rocket artillery fire destroyed "Palantin," an event that was even captured on video.

Militarny highlights that "Palantin" is a modern and relatively rare system that has only been destroyed a few times throughout the conflict in Ukraine. It also points out that, according to the Oryx research group, focusing on wartime actions, the Ukrainians have successfully eliminated three such systems. As previously reported, the Russian electronic warfare system "Palantin" was introduced in 2019, according to the global intelligence firm Janes.

At its debut, the Russians claimed the complex could disrupt enemy radio communications and electronic intelligence systems across roughly 1000 kilometres. They further emphasized that the equipment could "blind" the enemy in the short and ultra-short wave ranges and cut off their cellular communication. Additionally, "Palantin" possessed capabilities for covertly locating radio frequency objects, jamming bands and specific frequencies, and detecting other electronic warfare systems employed by the adversary.

The systems were spotted in Ukraine in June 2022. The Russians claimed that these systems allowed them to down Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles and "block" cellular hotspots and internet sources at enemy command posts without affecting civilian infrastructure. Despite its purported advanced features, "Palantin" proved not indestructible, failing to withstand the artillery fire from the HIMARS system.