Russian propaganda media report that their Chelyabinsk radio plant "Polet," which is part of the "AIS" holding of the state corporation "Rostech," has developed a "comprehensive zonal radar system for protection against drone attacks" with the option to scale this system to a city level, as stated directly by the state corporation.
The basic unit of this defense system is the "Sphere" complex, which is being created in various configurations. It is noted that the Russian occupying forces have allegedly already tested this weapon on the battlefield in Ukraine, where it was tested mounted on an unnamed vehicle. It is claimed that during combat operations, the "Sphere" complex managed to "neutralize" over 10 drones.
Earlier this year, one of the modifications, namely "Sphere-MB," underwent testing and was approved as a system capable of effectively countering unmanned aerial vehicles of various types.
Another attack by our long-range drones on one of the enemy's oil depots
The Russians emphasize that the "Sphere" can be used both for protecting individual objects and for scaling within a city. Since the system is modular, different configurations can be created for specific tasks.
Essentially, this system refers to a complex of electronic warfare against drones, with a particular focus on city protection - meaning that Russia may have copied a Ukrainian solution that has been effectively used for some time to counter Russian long-range strike drones, as well as decoys like "Herbari" and others.
It is worth recalling that back in the fall of 2023, the then Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, revealed the secret of the Ukrainian electronic warfare "Pokrova", and today the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine regularly reports on the participation of electronic warfare units in repelling massive enemy attacks. However, it is likely that Russia may have taken its own path in the context of scaling such a system.
It is also noted that previously in Russia, there were discussions about the need to create mobile groups to combat FPV drones instead of searching for a "universal electronic warfare pill." They need to form mobile groups for combating calculations in the context of countering these drones. Additionally, Russia has copied the Ukrainian solution of mobile fire groups for air defense to repel attacks from long-range strike drones.