The Russian military has developed and begun deploying the Multik electronic warfare system—a lightweight, compact jamming device built to shield helicopters against FPV drone attacks from Ukrainian forces. The Gradient Research Institute designed Multik to cover a full 360-degree protection zone, jamming three channels in the 700–6,000 MHz frequency range and offering detection up to 1,000 meters away. Its effective jamming radius is roughly 500 meters, which makes it suitable for countering drones attempting to target low-flying rotary aircraft.
Weighing less than 20 pounds, the system is mountable on helicopters and draws power from their existing electrical infrastructure. The Multik has reportedly been successfully integrated on both helicopters and ground vehicles, according to Russian defense sources and Ukrainian reports. These measures come amid repeated Ukrainian FPV drone strikes on Russian rotary assets, prompting a new wave of counter-drone innovation and battlefield adaptation.
Russia’s broader counter-drone toolkit includes long-established high-powered platforms like the Krasukha-2 and Krasukha-4, which focus on disrupting reconnaissance and communication networks. In addition, systems such as Repellent-1 and Silok-01 are used for medium-range drone defense, while portable “dome” jammers like Volnorez and Rubezh have been issued to mobile units and armored crews for localized protection.
This multi-layered defense strategy has been codified in a revised doctrine mandating that all Russian battalions and platoons employ at least one form of electronic warfare against drones. The updated approach incorporates rapid counter-drone training and integrates EW operations into Russia’s broader combined-arms tactics—signaling the growing importance of electronic countermeasures in the evolving conflict with Ukraine.
