Lockheed Martin's new electronic warfare system for the US military is progressing smoothly to support the complex signal intelligence, network and electronic warfare needs on the future battlefield.cell phone jammer As the global geopolitical landscape becomes increasingly complex, the US military's investment in electromagnetic spectrum control is also increasing.GPS jammer The intention of the development of this system is obvious: by providing electronic warfare capabilities at key nodes, it can enhance the means of troops to fight against interference, deception and cyber threats in high-end confrontations.Wifi jammer
Progress and test overview
US military officials recently revealed that Lockheed Martin's "Terrestrial Layer System-Brigade Combat Team" (TLS-BCT) project has made significant progress.drone jammer The system is designed to be installed on the Stryker combat vehicle produced by General Dynamics and the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) produced by BAE Systems. At the end of 2023, the TLS-BCT system received positive feedback in the test at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. U.S. Army Brigadier General Ed Buck said that the demonstration verified the signal intelligence, electronic warfare and network combat capabilities required on the future battlefield. GSM jammer The active participation and operational feedback of the soldiers in this test enabled the team to further improve the system to adapt to future actual combat needs.
Buck pointed out that through this demonstration, the US military obtained a lot of system operation data and operational feedback. Although the system still needs to be further optimized, the basic functions have met the Army's expectations for electronic warfare modernization. He emphasized that some technical details not mentioned in the test need to be resolved in subsequent operational evaluations, and it is expected that the system will undergo a final operational evaluation in fiscal year 2025 to ensure its combat effectiveness.
Electronic warfare requirements on future battlefields
The electromagnetic spectrum is becoming increasingly critical on the modern battlefield, involving not only traditional battlefield reconnaissance and weapon guidance, but also real-time communications with friendly forces and interference with enemy communications. The purpose of the TLS-BCT system is to give brigade-level units more powerful spectrum manipulation capabilities, thereby obtaining clearer situational awareness in hostile environments, while destroying the opponent's sensitive networks and advanced equipment. With the increasing complexity of modern warfare, the value of electronic warfare has increased significantly, especially when confronting powerful countries such as China and Russia, the electromagnetic spectrum has become a top priority in the field of high confrontation.
As a limited resource, the electromagnetic spectrum can be used to assist one's own actions, but it may also be used by the enemy. The strength of the electromagnetic spectrum control capability will directly affect the success or failure of a battle. Observations by the US military show that electronic warfare and signal jamming technologies have shined in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and the recent fierce exchanges in the Middle East, so the US military is actively preparing related equipment and technologies to ensure that it does not fall behind.
Lockheed's electronic warfare blueprint
As one of the world's largest defense contractors, Lockheed Martin's investment in the field of electronic warfare can be described as systematic and in-depth. In addition to the TLS-BCT system, the company is also committed to developing multiple electronic warfare systems, such as "TLS-Echelon Brigade and Above" (TLS-EAB) and "Multifunctional Electronic Warfare-Large Air Warfare" (MFEW-AL). Both systems are positioned for wide-area control, especially for comprehensive control of the spectrum in large-scale combat environments. TLS-EAB is designed to provide full-range electronic warfare support for units above the brigade level, while MFEW-AL focuses on the electronic countermeasures capabilities of air platforms to ensure electronic warfare advantages under land and air coordination.
Dion Verguts, vice president of spectrum fusion at Lockheed Martin, once said that the company recognizes the growing demand for complex jamming technology in the Department of Defense, especially the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and the confrontation between Israel and Hamas, which have provided valuable practical experience for the U.S. Department of Defense. These observations not only inspired Lockheed's enthusiasm for the development of a new generation of jammers, but also responded in terms of budget support, showing the urgent need for these high-end equipment in the Department of Defense.
Technical challenges of modern electronic warfare systems
The TLS-BCT project is not only an ordinary combat system transformation task, but also a complex project that deeply integrates traditional reconnaissance and electronic jamming. The technical challenges it faces include the sensitivity of signal reception and processing, high-speed transmission of information, and multi-task parallel processing. As a network-based electronic warfare system, the core of the TLS-BCT system is to provide a set of efficient signal reconnaissance and spectrum control means, while ensuring real-time data transmission and tactical information support, it can also achieve real-time interference with enemy communications.