Electronic Combat Technology

The Electronic Combat Technology program (PE 0603270F) is an Air Force research and development initiative focused on advancing electronic warfare (EW) capabilities to support warfighting operations. The primary objective of this program is to develop, demonstrate, and transition advanced technologies, components, and subsystems that enhance the survivability and effectiveness of aerospace platforms in contested electromagnetic environments. The program addresses both procurement and research needs, with a strong emphasis on integrating electronic combat sensors, systems, and countermeasures into cohesive, resilient, and agile mission architectures.

EW Quick Reaction Capabilities (Project 633720) is a major line item within this program, designed to rapidly assess, develop, and demonstrate new EW concepts and techniques. Its goals include the creation of disruptive EW and countermeasures concepts, evaluation of these concepts in high-fidelity virtual and hardware settings, and demonstration in operationally relevant environments. The project also establishes a robust analytic and modeling capability to support the development and assessment of advanced countermeasures. In FY 2025, specific objectives included the continued development of resilient positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) technologies for airborne platforms, particularly in challenging environments. The integration of open architecture standards was also prioritized to facilitate the adoption of new PNT solutions across Department of Defense (DoD) systems.

Within EW Quick Reaction Capabilities, the Integrated EW Demonstration effort focuses on integrating emerging technologies to develop and demonstrate spectrum dominance concepts. The aim is to counter advanced electromagnetic threats across both radio frequency (RF) and electro-optic/infrared (EO/IR) spectrums. This includes the agile development and rapid fielding of new electromagnetic attack and support capabilities, as well as the expansion of modeling, simulation, and laboratory environments to assess cognitive and autonomous EW technologies. The project emphasizes iterative data collection and operational testing to ensure that new capabilities meet evolving operational requirements.

RF Warning & Countermeasures Tech (Project 63431G) is another key component of the Electronic Combat Technology program. Its primary objective is to develop and demonstrate advanced RF electronic combat suites and associated navigation technologies to enhance the survivability and situational awareness of aerospace vehicles. Research under this project addresses missile and threat warning systems, RF receivers, advanced signal processing algorithms, and expert software for both current and future EW systems. The project also focuses on the development of subsystems for generating on-board and off-board RF countermeasures to address a wide range of multispectral threats.

A significant thrust within RF Warning & Countermeasures Tech is the Spectrum Dominance Technology Demonstrations effort. This initiative aims to develop and assess multi-spectral electromagnetic support and attack concepts, leveraging open architecture solutions for position, navigation, and system resilience. Key activities include the maturation of modeling and simulation environments, technology demonstrations for Air Force platforms, threat characterization, and the development of advanced networking, processing, and cybersecurity technologies for next-generation avionics. The project utilizes agile development and digital engineering techniques to accelerate the integration and demonstration of new EW capabilities.

Throughout FY 2024 and FY 2025, both projects supported the rapid development and demonstration of technologies to address emerging threats and operational needs. In FY 2026, all funding and technical work from the Electronic Combat Technology program was realigned and consolidated under Program Element 0603203F, Advanced Aerospace Sensors, specifically within the Advanced Aerospace Sensors Technology project. This realignment was intended to facilitate better planning, execution, and demonstration of integrated sensing and spectrum dominance capabilities, ensuring a more cohesive approach to developing and fielding advanced EW technologies.