Electronic Warfare Applied Research

Will mature analytic techniques for the development of emerging cognitive radars and jammers complex threats; establish a lab-based assessment framework for EW threats and AI/ML based systems; conduct hardware in the loop waveform vulnerability analysis for cognitive radio software and systems.

Will mature existing electronic attack transceiver hardware by adding a distributed, emitter direction-finding mode; utilize machine-learning/neural network techniques to enhance direction-finding accuracy; conduct research into new countermeasure modalities to increase survivability for aerial autonomous platforms

Will investigate different artificial intelligence hardware schemes for suitability for integration with current EW methodologies; design and develop a new scalable compact RF EW baseline breadboard concept for future incorporation with Army platforms.

Will mature antenna architecture to optimize performance in field and integrate reconfigurable wideband power dividers; develop the capability to double the number of switchable states supported by the reconfigurable antennas; validate antenna architecture operation in field relevant conditions and on unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and…

Will investigate microsensor components; develop initial microsensor designs focused on identifying and geo-locating tactical communications RF emissions; investigate long-range data exfil alternatives.

Will develop orchestration software to dynamically manage RF emissions with emphasis on proof of concept of command and control and incorporating feedback from vendor commercial off the shelf hardware; demonstrate minimum viable product over the air.

Will mature the hardware components developed for RF Photonics components as well as leverage previously developed modeling and simulations to support hardware maturation. Early experimentation will take place to validate performance metrics. MFRF technologies will be developed to extend frequency performances, and multi-mission…

Will investigate advanced distributed electronic attack techniques in controlled outdoor scenarios; define application requirement specification including platform size, weight, power, and cost (SWAP-C) constraints; investigate objective EW functionalities, signals of interest, and algorithm implications; assess initial design concepts…

Will design and develop INDOPACOM surrogate live / virtual hybrid simulation environment and scenarios for distributed EM Spectrum attack and protect; combine prior ARL and industry work in Live Virtual Constructive Environment with OSW Test Resource Management Center and industry developed physics-based scattering models for a simulated…

Will investigate novel, rapid approximation and surrogate approaches to physics-based modeling and simulation of complex military systems, effects, and data.

FY2027 planned work Will investigate methods to adapt EW effect behaviors to changing multi-spectral threat capabilities, complex threat behaviors, and environments. Will develop adaptive threat behavior models to incorporate into collaborative EW algorithms. Will utilize modeling tools to measure performance of adaptive threat models and collaborative EW algorithms

FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding increase represents investigation of methods to adapt EW behaviors to changing threats.

FY2026 plans — current year Will develop EW techniques that address advanced threat features and high threat complexity; increase adaptability of coordinated EW nodes to dynamic changes in environment and threat behavior; determine performance of novel approaches in simulation against threat models.

FY2027 planned work Will mature sensor fusion algorithms for multiple non-traditional signals as PNT sources; will develop algorithms for acquiring and tracking selected signals. Will investigate use of RF components in the appropriate frequency bands for PNT applications and conduct experiments with signals in a lab environment to determine performance.

FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding increase reflects planned lab demonstrations of signals and fusion algorithms as PNT sources

FY2026 plans — current year Will continue to investigate alternative RF signal to be used as PNT sources; determine most complementary signal sources and validate position and timing accuracies; mature sensor fusion algorithms; investigate and determine RF components necessary to receive PNT-relevant RF signals.

FY2027 planned work Will validate novel time transfer techniques and methodologies for formation-based timing solutions that enable low-cost and disadvantaged Army platforms. Will conduct experiments with relevant Army platforms that execute cooperative sensing and countermeasures; will determine results of simulations for cooperative PNT and RF ranging with error propagation through a network to simulate real-world Army scenarios. Will demonstrate two-way time transfer in a laboratory environment.

FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding decrease reflects completed investigation of time transfer techniques and transition to validation of techniques.

FY2026 plans — current year Will continue investigation of novel time transfer techniques/methodologies to determine the most advantageous use cases for relevant Army platforms; conduct experiments to validate the required relative timing and RF ranging precision for relevant Army platforms that execute cooperative sensing and countermeasures; mature concepts for cooperative PNT at needed RF ranging and time transfer precision levels within each selected focus area

FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding decrease reflects realignment to CEMA Vulnerability Analysis Methodology within this project.

FY2026 plans — current year Will mature analytic techniques for characterization of EW and Cyber effects on Network Baseline technologies; build-on early developmental network technologies to gain understanding, knowledge, and design of advanced tools and methodologies for EW and cyber vulnerabilities assessments; identify vulnerabilities of Army network technologies in early stages of development; investigate effects CEMA attack vector(s) on emerging 5G technologies and other wireless technologies, including applied Artificial Intelligence (AI) and cognitive systems CEMA effects.

FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding decrease reflects realignment to CEMA Vulnerability Analysis Methodology within this project.

FY2026 plans — current year Will develop tools to quantify performance of Army network systems and technologies (e.g. 5G, AI cognitive systems, Quantum- based PNT, UAS and other network technologies); investigate emerging EW threats to characterize degradation of network technology performance in contested and congested environments; investigate threat techniques that target Army networks and will architect emerging threats to use in network analyses and characterization; mature the analytical framework to represent emerging CEMA threats; investigate machine learning techniques to analyze data collected from heterogenous clients on the network for cyber- attacks

FY2027 planned work Will develop methodologies and techniques to characterize and analyze emerging EW, Cyber and CEMA threats and their effects to existing and developmental Army systems under congested and contested conditions; modernize / update lab-based and field assessment tools and create new techniques to represent foreign threats; develop methodologies to identify new cybersecurity and EW threats for emerging AI-enabled network and PNT systems; conduct red cell experiments to mature and validate assessments tools and methodologies in a controlled environment to quantify vulnerability and performance of Army network systems and technologies (e.g., Command and Control (C2)/Counter C2, 5G/Future G, AI…

FY2026 to FY2027 change This is not a new start effort. FY 2027 funding increase reflects the consolidation of other ongoing efforts within this project from Understanding, Protecting, and Enabling CEMA Effects and Vulnerability Analysis Methodology for CEMA Threats.

FY2027 planned work Will develop initial version of novel software defined NAVWAR Attack techniques for use cases on prioritized targets; evaluate techniques against representative targets in a laboratory environment with hardware in the loop; leverage open air experimentation events for initial testing with NAVWAR Attack emissions.

FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding increase reflects migration of techniques into hardware and evaluation in a representative environment.

FY2026 plans — current year Will validate current and novel NAVWAR attack techniques in a modeling and simulation environment; conduct lab experiments on NAVWAR Attack techniques using existing EW systems to identify system requirements and the most promising attack vectors and techniques for development.

FY2027 planned work Will continue to develop control schemes to integrate attack techniques provided by C5ISR, conduct HWIL lab experiments to demonstrate unique aerial beam shaping and modeling using the selected design parameters of the NAVWAR system. Will continue to refine the parameters for critical enabling technologies and conduct high-fidelity modeling and simulation (M&S) experiments to validate study results; mature NAVWAR EA techniques and codevelop study and design work from M&S to physical products for system integration and furthering small autonomous network functions.

FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding increase reflects the development and assembly of components and migration of techniques for Hardware-in-the-loop testing.

FY2026 plans — current year Will investigate the initial parameters for critical enabling technologies and conduct high fidelity modeling and simulation experiments to validate study results; mature NAVWAR EA technique support to develop Modeling, Simulation, and Analysis (MS&A) products; continue development of Command and Control, EA, and electronic support functions for a distributed, ad-hoc connected payload system.

FY2027 planned work Will validate automation-enabled collaborative engagement algorithms for remote weapon systems. Conduct experiments via soldier touchpoints to receive feedback and recommendations for software enhancements. Will validate fire control algorithms, targeting and engagement solutions for C-sUAS fire On The Move (OTM) engagements to reduce risk ahead of live fire demonstrations conducted under PE/PROJ 0603275A/A72.

FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding decreased due to reduced number of experiments via soldier touchpoints

FY2026 plans — current year Will design and develop intelligent, distributed lethality fire control capabilities with autonomy-enabled architecture to support Counter-small Unmanned Aerial Systems (C- sUAS) engagements; design advanced fire control algorithms, targeting and engagement solutions for C-sUAS Fire engagements.

FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding decrease reflects the accelerated completion of the BA02 work. The effort will continue BA03 work under Program Element (PE) 0603275A (Electronic Warfare Advanced Technology) / Project A77 (EW for Maneuver Operations (EMO) Adv Tech).

FY2026 plans — current year Expand the EW/C-UAS technology baseline. Will refine modeling and simulation of notional counter-surveillance and reconnaissance (CSR) solution to further inform design and performance requirements. Mature the concept of operations for CSR engagement of adversary capabilities. Initiate laboratory prototyping and mature detection algorithms.

FY2027 planned work Will validate outcomes of conducted experiments to determine the most impactful investments for countering adversarial detection, localization, and tracking technologies; continue to mature software and hardware elements to improve EW capabilities.

FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding decrease reflects conclusion of experiments and threat-specific analysis.

FY2026 plans — current year Will continue to conduct experiments and validate hardware and software elements being developed as part of the ARL Combined & Distributed Electromagnetic Warfare (CDEW) program; conduct threat- specific analysis informed from recent intelligence to ensure that resulting technologies are supportive of mission needs and Senior Leader priorities (target categories, frequency ranges, stand-off distances); investigate and conduct experiments to counter advanced adversarial detection, localization, and tracking technologies; assess technical performance as a measure of improved blue system survivability via degraded accuracy, delayed detection, or a combination of the two from the perspective of…

FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding decrease reflects planned completion of effort and final transition to PE 0603275 Project A76 (CEMA Sensing Advanced Technology) effort Multi-function Resourcing for CEMA Advanced Technology.

FY2026 plans — current year Will investigate algorithms for automated resource allocation of distributed multi-function sensors for coincidence/cooperative Electronic Warfare and electronic Battle Damage Assessment (eBDA); validate component technology within a C5ISR Modular Open Suite of Standards aligned card for use in a multifunction sensor chassis.