LONDON -- The UK’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) is making significant strides in bolstering its Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) capabilities with the development of a Radio Frequency Directed Energy Weapon (RFDEW) system. This technology aligns with the recent increase in defense spending, aiming to position the UK's defense industry at the forefront.

The RFDEW system offers the ability to detect, track, and neutralize a wide range of threats across land, air, and sea. With a current operational range of 1 kilometer and ongoing development pushing for further extension, the system disrupts or damages critical electronic components of enemy vehicles through targeted radio waves. This can bring down drones or disable other electronic systems, effectively stopping them in their tracks.

One of the most compelling aspects of the RFDEW system is its cost-effectiveness. Compared to traditional missile-based air defense systems, the RFDEW offers a significant advantage. At a mere 10 pence per shot, it provides a highly economical solution for tackling dangerous drone swarms with immediate effect. Additionally, the system's high automation level allows for single-person operation, reducing manpower requirements.

RFDEW technology can be mounted on a variety of military vehicles and uses a mobile power source to produce pulses of Radio Frequency energy in a beam that can rapidly fire sequenced shots at individual targets or be broadened to simultaneously engage all threats within that beam.

The advanced technology is being developed by a joint team from the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) and Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), working with UK industry under Project Hersa. The next steps for RFDEW is undergoing extensive field testing with British soldiers over the summer.

Source: Forecast International
Associated URL: https://dsm.forecastinternational.com/2024/05/16/uk-developing-drone-killing-radio-weapon/

NASHUA, N.H. - BAE Systems has been selected by the U.S. Navy to develop Dual Band Decoy (DBD), one of the most advanced radio frequency (RF) countermeasures in the world. DBD is a cutting-edge RF self-protection jammer that shields fighter jets from enemy attacks.

Expanding the capabilities of BAE Systems’ combat-proven ALE-55 Fiber-Optic Towed Decoy, DBD consists of a towed unit connected by fiber-optic cable to electronic warfare equipment onboard the aircraft. The decoy delivers the latest jamming technology to disrupt enemy radars and lure missiles away from the aircraft. DBD can be launched by the pilot or automatically in response to threats, offering critical protection in highly contested airspace.

“With Dual Band Decoy, we are building on the ALE-55’s years of mission success as a high-powered jamming system,” said Don Davidson, director of the Advanced Compact Electronic Warfare Solutions product line at BAE Systems. “Dual Band Decoy delivers broad capability that can be installed on a variety of aircraft and is upgradeable to address future threats.”

Dual Band Decoy incorporates the company’s custom integrated circuits, enabling higher performance and more capability with reduced size, weight, and power. DBD is an integral part of BAE Systems’ Intrepid Shield™ approach to creating a protective sphere around platforms in highly contested battlespaces using the full electromagnetic spectrum to detect, exploit, and counter advanced threats.

DBD will be initially fielded on the U.S. Navy’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. Work on DBD will be performed at the company’s state-of-the-art facilities in Nashua, N.H.

Source: BAE Systems
Associated URL: https://www.baesystems.com/en-us/home

WASHINGTON - Deloitte Consulting LLP, Arlington, Virginia, is awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the command, control, communications, computers and intelligence, training virtual environment (C4I TVE) requirement. The estimated, cumulative value of this award contract is $87.8 million. The C4I TVE contract is for support services to sustain, modernize, and enhance the Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services (CANES) TVE, as well as expansion to support additional Tactical Networks (TACNET) capabilities and connected and/or hosted applications across the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR) enterprise.

Work is expected to be completed by May 2029. The contract was competitively procured by full and open competition bids via the NAVWAR e-Commerce Central and the SAM.gov websites, with three offers received. NAVWAR, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N0003924D9002).

Source: U.S. DoD
Associated URL: http://www.defenselink.gov