Russian fighter jets in better times. (Photo: Aterrassi/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images
Russian jets using GPS receivers, while ground vehicles use paper maps
GPS receivers have been found taped to the dashboards of Russian jets downed in Ukraine, according to a report from Express. The Express received the information from Ben Wallace, United Kingdom defense secretary, who mentioned it in a speech at the National Army Museum.
The GPS receivers were found taped to the dashboards of Russian SU-34s because of “the poor quality of their own systems,” he said. It is unclear whether he was referring to the Russian GLONASS satellite navigation system or the navigation systems aboard the SU-34 jets, but most likely the latter. Lack of maintenance and modernization of Russian military equipment has been obvious since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
As for navigation on the ground, many vehicles were found with paper maps from the 1980s, Wallace said.
Russian ground vehicles also lack situational awareness and digital battle management, he said, while the large amount of footage from Ukrainian drones points to a lack of wider air defense, including counter-UAV systems.
In a different news story from the war, Ukraine may be receiving Raytheon-built GPS-guided artillery rounds.
