Air Force lab to study electronic warfare

The Air Force Research Laboratory has awarded a $3.5 million contract to Raytheon Co. to design a battle management system to oversee electronic warfare efforts.

Under the contract, Raytheon will construct a system that will help Air Force personnel exert greater command and control over electronic warfare during combat, company officials said April 6. To achieve this, the company will conduct a series of electronic warfare experiments and demonstrations in a virtual combat laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base over a three-year period, the officials said.

Electronic warfare consists of the use of electromagnetic spectrum or directed energy to control the spectrum and execute successful missions against enemy forces. In operations against enemy forces, U.S. forces seek to deny enemy access to the electromagnetic spectrum and ensure that friendly forces have unimpeded access to it.

Raytheon’s teammates on the project are Sierra Nevada Corp., AEA Technology Inc. and Bonn Corp.