- Russia adds magnetic compasses to drones affected by satellite navigation jamming
- Molniya can use the Earth’s magnetic field for basic directional guidance
- A camera periodically checks the compass during the drone’s flight
Russian engineers have reportedly fitted a basic magnetic compass to the low-cost Molniya attack drone to counter satellite jamming.
The modification offers a low-cost alternative when electronic warfare systems interfere with GPS or GLONASS signals used by many unmanned aircraft.
While the upgrade doesn’t make the drone completely immune to interference, it does remove the reliance on satellite signals for basic directional guidance.
A compass helps Molniya survive satellite jamming
Most drones rely on satellite navigation systems, which both Ukrainian and Russian electronic warfare units have spent the war jamming and spoofing.
Unlike satellite navigation, a magnetic compass reads the Earth’s magnetic field directly and is not dependent on an external radio signal.
This makes the system difficult to disrupt through conventional jamming, which targets the signals drones use to determine their position and maintain planned flight paths.
The change could therefore help Molniya continue to follow a general course after electronic warfare systems interfere with satellite navigation.
According to Ukrainian defense adviser Serhii Beskrestnov, the latest upgrade was carried out by Skolkovo technologies.
“Skolkovo technologies continue to develop. A compass was installed on the Molniya drone, and the camera periodically tilts down to look at it,” he said.
Molniya has also appeared in versions controlled through fiber optic cables, which cannot be disconnected wirelessly because commands go through a physical connection.
However, these cables add weight and create limitations on range, payload capacity, and deployment flexibility.
Beskrestnov has also reported a Molniya attack involving no control antenna, with an onboard camera and computer handling navigation and target selection.
This development suggests that the low-cost drone is being adapted through various approaches to reduce reliance on vulnerable communication links.
Low costs make simple upgrades attractive
Russia’s approach to cheaply upgrading the Molniya drones suggests it is focused on spending less in the war against Ukraine.
The Molniya drones are quite cheap and are mostly made of plywood and aluminum tubing.
This explains why Russian engineers can add simple technologies instead of redesigning the entire aircraft around more expensive navigation systems.
Beskrestnov has estimated that Russia can build 10 to 15 Molniya drones for the price of one Supercam reconnaissance drone.
Supercam can cost close to $100,000 per aircraft according to the estimate, making the cheaper Molniya suitable for modifications that prioritize affordability over sophisticated hardware.
In response to Beskrestnov, Russian military analyst Ian Matveev said: “I’m sure the documents say: Navigation equipment based on the principles of the Earth’s magnetism.”
His remark captured how a cheap compass fix can outperform far more expensive electronic warfare countermeasures on the battlefield.
However, the magnetic compass does not provide precise satellite positioning, and the drone remains vulnerable to other countermeasures that affect its controls, sensors, or flight systems.
Via the Defense blog
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