American jamming weapons are about to land in electronic warfare

Posted by perfectjammer on September 21st, 2019

The U.S. military is working on a new generation of signal jamming weapons

The US military is working on the next-generation of cell phone jammer to defeat improvised explosive devices (IEDs) that pose such a grave threat to US forces deployed overseas. The jammers are called Joint Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device (RCIED) Electronic Warfare (JCREW) devices. They are high-power, modular, programmable, multiband radio frequency jammers designed to deny enemy use of selected portions of the radio frequency spectrum. They come in 3 varieties – fixed, mounted, and dismounted.

Jammers and other EW systems can be mounted on virtually any platform, including attack drones. Large systems can reach out to engage UASs at higher altitudes and greater distances. One of the most significant advantages of using electronic warfare against hostile drones is the reduced risk of collateral damage. This is particularly important when protecting urban infrastructure such as airports and government buildings. The use of EW against accessible targets also allows the defender to save long-range, but more expensive, kinetic weapons for use against more critical targets such as manned aircraft or ballistic and cruise missiles.

Northrop Grumman will enter its software-programmable GPS jammer, known as JCREW, into full-rate production external link, after receiving a .7 million US Navy contract. If all options are exercised, the total contract value could rise to 5 million, with contract completion scheduled for August 2022. JCREW systems are software-programmable jammers for use against device-triggered IEDs. Northrop Grumman have developed dismounted, mounted and fixed-site variants of the system.

The core of SPEAR-EW’s payload is Leonardo’s advanced, miniaturized Digital Radio Frequency Memory (DRFM) technology, which offers the most advanced and future-proof electronic jamming and deception available on the market today.

Powered by a turbojet engine the SPEAR missile offers over double the range, and a far more flexible operating envelope, when compared to a conventional glide weapon. SPEAR-EW utilizes this long endurance through its capacity to be launched at enhanced stand-off ranges and loiter while carrying out its jamming mission.