Joint Electronic Advanced Technology

Mission— Joint Electronic Advanced Technology

The Electromagnetic Operating Environment (EMOE) spans the terrestrial and space domains. It is the largest and most complex warfighting environment because it is universally pervasive, largely unseen, and can only be perceived through the use of advanced electronic technologies. Understanding and addressing warfighting challenges in the EMOE is essential to all military operations because it is through the use of Electromagnetic Spectrum (EMS) technologies that we perceive operational realities - the state and disposition of all military and nonmilitary forces and groups within operational environments - and coordinate all actions of our military forces. And it is through Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations (EMSO) that adversarial use of the EMOE can be impacted and potentially denied. EMS-enabled cyber capabilities have linked the cyber and EMOE domains in such a way that the two domains often enable each other. Independently, and sometimes in concert with each other, they will be used to deliver or enable non-kinetic effects. It is important that the two domains be considered in terms of their many potential synergies and not in isolation of one another. Cyberspace and the EMOE can and will overlap in operationally significant ways. Adversary radars are evolving from fixed analog systems to programmable digital variants with agile waveforms and unknown behaviors making preprogrammed electronic countermeasure less effective. Cognitive, adaptive, and passive technologies figure prominently. Foreign developments include new generations of challenging threats ranging from small, unmanned air systems and easily transportable Man-Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS) to dedicated anti-access area denial (A2/AD) military systems including integrated air defense systems and increasingly capable cruise and ballistic missiles that have incorporated the most advanced sensors, communication and electromagnetic warfare (EW) technologies. Non-kinetic exploits against the Command and Control (C2) networks in the cyber domain or at an EMS/cyber interface are also relevant. The Joint Electromagnetic Advanced Technology (JEAT) Program was established to address these challenges through efforts designed to substantially accelerate the development and maturing of innovative technologies to (1) address new EW and EW/Cyber warfighting challenges and (2) provide new, leap ahead EMSO warfighting capabilities to ensure U.S. warfighters will always have decisive EW and EW/Cyber overmatch capabilities. The JEAT program focuses on emerging EW and EW/Cyber-related technologies that fall outside the Services’ purviews, technologies that can be influenced with a joint (multi-Service) interest or technologies that are not being developed rapidly enough. JEAT investment influences all of these.

Mission— EW Enterprise Exploration and Innovation

Electronic Warfare (EW) Exploration and Innovation (E&I) research efforts focus on the Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations (EMSO) capabilities of electronic warfare (EW), sensing, communications; cyber capabilities, and the delivery platforms that are associated with them. The scope of the EW E&I research efforts is from a joint, multi-domain perspective over the broad range of potential non-kinetic effects. The non-kinetic effects can overlap into the Electro-Optical and Infrared (EO/IR) phenomenologies and potentially, integration with directed energy subsystems. New EW-related and EW/Cyber-related technologies are identified relative to current and projected EMSO challenges informed by the most current threat intelligence and from a joint and multi-domain perspective. Service operational perspectives are obtained through participation or facilitation of joint Communities of Interest (COIs). Potential solutions and technological synergies are explored through interaction with the research and practitioner communities. Considerable efforts are expended to avoid the potential for redundant efforts. The Joint Electronic Advanced Technology program element (JEAT) supports large-scale, operationally-relevant scenario driven multi-domain experimentation events focused on early development EMSO capabilities that are employed on small unmanned systems (UxS) across multiple operational domains. The events are structured for technology developers to experiment within an operationally relevant environment and includes wide participation by DoD operational and technical subject matter experts. Focus Areas include Distributed Electronic Attack, Deception, Digital Payload Delivery, Distributed Electronic Support and Electronic Protect with an emphasis on Swarming Algorithms, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Resilient Communications. These events started including AUKUS integration in FY-23. The purpose of the events is to observe and highlight the most current and promising capabilities available – or under development by- the commercial, academic, federal, and defense sectors of the U.S. and select international partners. The experiments provide the Defense Industrial Base (DIB), non-traditional and emerging Industry, Government and Academic based Labs opportunities to meet with Department of Defense (DoD) experts to refine their technologies on a test-fix-test basis. The experiments allow the system developers to prepare for technology transition. Typically, the Technology Readiness level (TRL) is advanced which improves commercial viability and the potential for transition. The experiment also offers a venue to demonstrate capabilities to potential transition partners.

Accomplishments & Planned Programs (1)