The need for cyber and electromagnetic activities Weaknesses identified in the Georgian Operation (from a Russian perspective) In August and September 2008, Russia conducted a multi-pronged operation against Georgia in support of the Russian-backed, self-proclaimed republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. 5 While this operation was successful, it did highlight several weaknesses in Russian surveillance and communications capability between single Services, weaknesses that Russia has sought to address. While the use of superior numbers of conventional ground forces and artillery was successful, other softer activities requiring modern equipment operated by agile joint forces proved less so. 1 a. The inability to counter the Georgian air defence capabilities led to limited fixed-wing air operations and almost no rotary wing air operations. Air superiority was only achieved once ground forces had neutralised Georgian air defences. b. Russian military communications had little integration between different radio systems. c. Russia had, until this time, limited their use of unmanned aircraft systems; this combined with electronic warfare weaknesses left a gap in intelligence provision. Few Russian sources directly acknowledged these weaknesses, but following the Georgian operation, the Russian military took steps to address both cyber and electronic warfare capability development.6 sds5 6 5 More infromation is available at http://usacac.army.mil/CAC2/MilitaryReview/Archives/ English/MilitaryReview_20091231_art009.pdf 6 More information is available at http://ssi.armywarcollege.edu/pdffiles/pub1069.pdf JDN 1/18 7