Operators of the Special Operations Forces destroyed the Russian Sapphire electronic warfare system in the Kursk region

Operators of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed the Russian Sapphire electronic warfare system in the Kursk region.

The SOF press service published the video of the incident.

It is reported that the EW station was discovered during reconnaissance of the Russian-controlled area.

The attack was carried out with the help of attack drones. As a result of the strike, the Sapphire electronic warfare system was destroyed, and its crew suffered casualties in killed and wounded.

Sapphire electronic warfare system

Sapphire is a Russian electronic warfare system developed and manufactured by the Radio-Electronic Technologies concern.

The system is designed to counter drones and provide defense of important facilities.

The Sapphire electronic warfare system is based on the Mersedes-Benz Sprinter civilian bus chassis. However, it is likely to be optionally mounted on a different chassis, including a specialized chassis.

The manufacturer claims that the system’s equipment can detect and classify drones at a distance of up to 30 kilometers and counter them at a distance of up to 5 kilometers.

In addition, according to representatives of the Radio-Electronic Technologies concern, the Sapphire electronic warfare system was used directly in the combat zone. Still, there is no evidence of its operation or assessment of its effectiveness.

The system has a characteristic, presumably telescopic, mast with a large number of omnidirectional antennas. The system’s control center is located in the same vehicle as the hardware component.

Combat missions of the Ukrainian SOF in the Kursk region

On August 20, Militarnyi reported that the SOF used drones to hit the vehicles and equipment of a Russian pontoon and bridge unit in the Kursk region.

In particular, the PP-91M vehicle with the PMP-M floating bridge and the EOV-3521 army bucket excavator were hit.

The crossing compensated for logistical disruptions after destroying two bridges in the nearest settlements, namely Glushkovo and Zvannoye. Precise air strikes by Ukrainian aviation destroyed them.