December1 unveils details of the Damba EW system after emerging from stealth mode

Ukrainian defence tech company December1, which develops and manufactures the Damba electronic warfare (EW) system, has made its first public communications, disclosing details of its operations. The company explained why, after two years of operating under restricted public visibility, it decided to disclose information about the system and report on the scaling up of its production.

In a comment to Defender Media, December1’s Director of International Affairs, Illia Kabachynskyi, explained that going public became a natural step as the project matured. Initially, the developers deliberately maintained a stealth mode so the enemy would remain unaware of the new solutions for as long as possible. However, after two years, the adversary learned of Damba’s existence and began seeking countermeasures.

“The less the enemy knows about effective solutions, the less they can counter them. That was the logic we followed from the outset. But after two years, the enemy learned of these systems anyway and is attempting to counter them. So while public disclosure could have caused harm two years ago, it no longer impacts operations today,” Kabachynskyi said.

Additionally, the need for greater public visibility arose with the onset of discussions regarding potential exports and the company’s participation in international defence conferences.

How Damba works

The system operates at the tactical level and can detect threats at ranges of up to 50 kilometres. It generates radio-frequency interference that severs the control link between an enemy UAV and its operator, while integration with external sensors and network connectivity provides 360-degree coverage.

According to the manufacturer, a key feature of the Damba EW system is its networked architecture. The platform delivers precision jamming targeting specific UAV classes, ranging from FPV drones and Shahed loitering munitions to Molniya, Zala, and Supercam reconnaissance platforms. The system is also equipped with a remotely controlled pan-tilt (rotating) platform.

“Amid a shortage of qualified operators, automated response scenarios play a key role. This turns the system into a flexible, scalable solution that easily integrates with affiliated platforms and rapidly adapts to new enemy frequency bands through regular software updates,” Kabachynskyi said.

According to the manufacturer, December1 engineers deploy dozens of software updates annually based on direct feedback from the frontline.

December1 scales up production

Over the past 20 months, the manufacturer has increased production fivefold. The company now produces hundreds of Damba systems per month, with thousands already in use on the frontline.

Beyond units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard, and the National Police, customers include private enterprises and critical infrastructure facilities utilising the systems to protect rear assets.

The procurement price of a single system for the government is $10,000, with the software provided free of charge. According to the manufacturer, this combination of cost efficiency and operational capability makes it a key solution for scaling tactical electronic warfare.

Although the adversary is increasingly employing fibre-optic FPV drones, radio-frequency links remain the primary method for UAV control. December1 plans to adapt Damba to new frequency bands in response to shifting enemy tactics.