Ukraine has developed an electronic warfare system that forces Russian missiles to crash into fields
Ukraine is increasingly relying on electronic warfare (EW) systems to counter Russian missiles and drones amid a shortage of expensive interceptor missiles. One of the key developments is the Lima system, created by the Ukrainian defense startup Cascade Systems.
Politico reported on the capabilities of the new technology after speaking with the Ukrainian developers of the system.
Unlike traditional air defense systems, which physically destroy targets, Lima works by jamming and spoofing satellite navigation signals. The system creates powerful interference that causes Russian missiles and drones to lose accuracy and change course.
As explained by the Lima developer and commander of the “Night Watch” electronic warfare unit of the Ukrainian Territorial Defense Forces, call sign “Alchemist,” the system not only blocks navigation but also transmits false coordinates to the enemy.
“When Lima is activated, the deviation of the missiles becomes even more significant. In addition to simply jamming navigation, we use coordinate substitution and shift them by several kilometers. We can force their missiles to fall into fields instead of hitting targets,” he noted.
According to the developers, sometimes Russian weapons “think” they are in other countries after the system intervenes.
“According to the developers, some past attacks were prevented because the approaching weapons ‘thought’ they were in Peru.”
Lima’s main advantages are its cost and scalability. One system costs up to 3 million hryvnias, depending on the model. To defend a large city, 30 to 100 such systems are needed, which is estimated to cost approximately 5 million euros—comparable to the cost of a single Patriot PAC-3 missile.
Cascade Systems has already supplied the Ukrainian military with over 400 Lima systems. They began being used in July 2024, and starting in October 2025, the system was also deployed to protect civilian infrastructure.
According to the company, over the past 18 months, the system has:
- jammed the signals of 20,500 Shahed drones;
- knocked dozens of ballistic and cruise missiles off course.
Maksym Skoretskyi, head of the Ukrainian Army’s electronic warfare department, stated that modern versions of the Lima system are capable of effectively countering even long-range missiles that use the GLONASS navigation system.
At the same time, he emphasized that even after losing navigation, missiles and drones can still fall and cause damage.
“However, will Russian ballistic missiles hit their intended target when Lima is activated? I would say that is unlikely,” Skoretsky emphasized.
The system is also capable of creating so-called “dead zones” where enemy drones completely lose their guidance signal.
“When we… create a sufficiently wide zone protected by Lima stations, the missile won’t even reach the city. We’ll send it into an open field,” explained “Alchemist.”
According to the military, even a slight deviation of a guided aerial bomb from its target can thwart the attack.
“Even if a guided bomb deviates from the target by about 20 meters, that already means the target won’t be hit,” noted Skoretsky.
Earlier, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine certified and approved for use in the Armed Forces of Ukraine three fiber-optic FPV systems manufactured by enterprises of JSC “Ukrainian Defense Industry.”
Prior to this, the Ministry of Defense had certified and authorized the domestic “Volynaka” unmanned aerial system for use by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Previously, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine approved the Shablya MK19(M) remotely controlled combat module for use by the troops. It is equipped with an MK19 40mm automatic grenade launcher.
Previously, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine codified and approved the “Nebokray” mobile workshops for use in the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). The system is designed for the repair and maintenance of drones.
The Ministry of Defense has codified and approved for use in the Armed Forces of Ukraine the new unmanned FPV aircraft complex “General Chereshnya.”
The Ministry of Defense has codified and approved for use in the Armed Forces of Ukraine a new Ukrainian-made unmanned aerial system, the V-1. These ultra-light bombers are designed to strike concentrations of personnel, vehicles, and armored equipment.
