Innovations
Technological and operational innovations in the UAS and counter-UAS space — what emerged first, where, and what it changes. Each entry is sourced, dated, and linked to the drones involved.
Spain selects Airbus A321 as basis for Santiago II SIGINT aircraft
Spain will rebuild its airborne SIGINT capability by converting three Airbus A321 airliners into crewed COMINT/ELINT collection and processing platforms under the Santiago II program, with Airbus and Indra developing the mission system arch…
Taiwan receives first F-16 Block 70s with AN/ALQ-254(V)1 Viper Shield EW suite
Taiwan has taken delivery of its first new-build F-16C/D Block 70 fighters, notable for integrating the L3Harris AN/ALQ-254(V)1 Viper Shield electronic warfare/self-protection suite. The post highlights that EW-suite development/production …
USMC to mount Anduril Pulsar-L anti-drone EW jammer on ACVs
The U.S. Marine Corps is urgently procuring Anduril’s Pulsar-L to integrate an omni-directional sensor/jammer package onto Amphibious Combat Vehicles for organic, on-the-move counter-UAS and counter-PNT effects. The notable element is a veh…
US Space Force used ground-based EW to disrupt Iranian space comms in Epic Fury
The post describes Space Force’s forward-deployed 42nd Electromagnetic Warfare Combat Detachment conducting non-kinetic electromagnetic fires during Operation Epic Fury, likely using a Counter Communications System (CCS)-type ground jammer …
BAE unveils Shadow EW pods for small UAVs
BAE Systems announced a new “Shadow EW” family of compact electronic-warfare payloads designed to fit small aerial platforms and be produced cheaply at scale. If fielded, it could enable mass deployment of airborne jamming/SIGINT effects fr…
France accelerates Rafale F5 with GaN radar, digital EW, stealthy datalink
France is accelerating the Rafale F5 upgrade, featuring a new Thales RBE2-XG GaN AESA radar with increased power/detection range and AI-ready processing, plus collaborative sensing. It also includes a fully digital overhaul of the SPECTRA s…
Report alleges COSCO cargo ships carry concealed SIGINT suites
The post alleges Chinese state-run COSCO container ships have long carried concealed, sophisticated signals-intelligence equipment to collect military communications and encryption-related signals near global coastlines. If accurate, it ref…
US Army plan to rapidly field commercial EW systems to soldiers
The post describes the US Army’s approach to quickly deliver new electronic warfare capability by procuring and fielding commercial/off-the-shelf EW systems rather than starting new programs. The novelty is the acquisition/fielding pathway …
EA-37B Compass Call II conducts EW/recon flight near Kaliningrad
The post describes the first noted appearance of the USAF’s new EA-37B Compass Call II operating near Russia’s Kaliningrad enclave as part of a specialized recon/EW package. While not a new battlefield tactic, it is a notable new deployment…
US Marine Corps contracts Epirus HAVOC high-power microwave counter-swarm system
The US Marine Corps is procuring Epirus' vehicle-mounted HAVOC high-power microwave system designed to defeat drone swarms, with autonomous target identification and a claimed major increase in power density, ruggedness, and effective range…