In the next large scale combat operation our forces will face relentless targeting with Electronic Warfare measures. Are we ready? ⬇️

“When Excalibur precision artillery rounds were first deployed in Ukraine, they hit their intended target 70% of the time, with misreported coordinates by those calling for fire largely responsible for the 30% that missed. By August 2023, at the height of Ukraine’s offensive aimed at liberating its occupied territories, just 6% of Excalibur rounds landed on target. The cause of this precipitous decline in effectiveness was Russian electronic warfare.”

Dr Jack Watling and Noah Sylvia have a new report out for RUSI on ‘Competitive Electronic Warfare in Modern Land Operations’ to add to your long read list. While this paper focuses on preparing the British Army for an electronic warfare (EW) saturated battlespace, there are plenty of relevant lessons for other nations.

After decades of facing opponents that we outmatched in almost every way, the West has been lulled into a way of fighting that will not work against an adversary that can meet or beat our warfighting capability. As the Ukraine conflict has shown, the proliferation of EW measures and countermeasures will be persistent when we fight against an equal opponent.

A Financial Times article from 2024 assessed while Ukraine has been innovating quickly, Russia has the upper hand in EW capability:

“EW systems come in many shapes and sizes, from radar arrays and truck-mounted transmitter-receivers to pocket-sized devices. Both sides have rushed to protect troops by erecting make shift EW systems, which one Ukranian engineer said volunteers would assemble in garages.

Both Russia and Ukraine have maintained strong research & development schools for EW that had been established in Soviet times, but the Russian Government has invested heavily in new kit for more than a decade.”

Plenty of food for thought as the Australian Army seeks to enhance the force in being to be future ready!

🖼️ via Financial Times