Our on-line world is acknowledged as a essential warfighting area. Operations within the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum have additionally lengthy been an necessary piece of the arsenal. Latest advances in software program outlined radio (SDR), radio frequency system on chip (RF SoC), and synthetic intelligence (AI) have demonstrated that digital warfare (EW) strategies could be much more potent and available. For instance, manipulation of intelligently adaptive radio indicators may disable adversaries’ sensors and communication programs.
Past the boundaries of the battlefield, the Pentagon signaled the necessity for EM functionality in 2020, with the DoD Electromagnetic Spectrum Superiority Technique and Joint Publication 3-85: Joint Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations.
Within the post-modern warfare panorama of in the present day, EW and our on-line world operations (CyberOps) are already being performed collectively at an elevated charge on the battlefield. On this weblog put up, I’ll introduce the ideas of EW and CyberOps, the drivers behind their development in direction of convergence, and a number of other key points within the discipline.
Data Operations, Digital Warfare, and Our on-line world Operations
Earlier than going into element about EW and CyberOps, we have to set out how these two strategies match throughout the broader set of capabilities often known as army info operations (IO). Data operations embody the employment of built-in capabilities, resembling laptop community operations (CNO), EW, psychological operations (PSYOP), operations safety (OPSEC) and army deception (MILDEC). The target of those built-in capabilities is to realize cognitive and/or technical benefit, sometimes by influencing perceptions and behaviors. As illustrated within the determine under, IO operates throughout bodily, informational, and cognitive domains with the aim of securing a bonus over adversaries, typically by disrupting communication programs or by means of dissemination of propaganda or misinformation.
Determine 1: Navy Data Operations
The idea of the convergence between EW and CyberOps has been round for greater than a decade; nonetheless, there was an rising development in direction of the implementation and operationalization of EW and CyberOps converged programs. Extra just lately, the concepts codified within the idea of Cyber Electromagnetic Actions (CEMA) have emerged on the scene in varied varieties together with clever communication programs, autonomous platforms, and tactical edge computational capabilities. We’ll take a look at these and others on this part.
Technological Driving Elements
A key issue driving the rise in converged programs is the development of software-defined radio (SDR) expertise and capabilities. Whereas SDRs have been in the marketplace for a few years, the newest developments search to scale back measurement and energy consumption whereas rising computational functionality and enhancing efficiency. These tendencies could be readily seen within the developments in Radio Frequency System-on-Chip (RFSoC) applied sciences. Fashionable SDRs have shifted away from utilizing separate chips for radio frequency (RF) entrance ends and information processing in direction of utilization of single-chip options. RFSoC gadgets can combine high-speed analog-to-digital converters (ADC) and digital-to-analog converters (DAC) instantly into the chip, considerably decreasing measurement, energy, and value. Modern SDRs can assist a number of radio chains working at excessive sampling charges, typically better than a giga-sample per second, and excessive instantaneous bandwidths that may enable many (in some instances, 16 or extra) unbiased radio channels inside a single system. Mixed with adaptive waveforms, SDR software program now permits a single-base {hardware} SoC to change its performance virtually immediately between communications, radar, and cyber exploitation. This facilitates clever jamming strategies the place an adversarial protocol could be sensed, understood, and manipulated in real-time.
Advances in edge computing, {hardware} miniaturization, and integration of synthetic intelligence and machine studying (AI/ML) instruments are additionally drivers. AI/ML instruments can enhance sign processing, allow clever modulation, handle interference, and supply cognitive radio capabilities the place the radio can detect the spectral setting and autonomously change its operational parameters in response. The ever-widening software of AI instruments permits programs to mechanically detect, classify, and adapt to new, unknown risk indicators enabling EW programs to autonomously develop jamming strategies reasonably than counting on pre-programmed waveform and/or protocol libraries. {Hardware} miniaturization, edge computing, and hardware-software codesign of programs affords the flexibility to course of RF information nearer to the supply (edge computing) improved by quicker, extra environment friendly embedded processors. That is essential for Web of Issues (IoT) functions, autonomous platforms, and distant sensing. Lastly, enhancements and developments in software program instruments resembling MATLAB, LabView FPGA Module, GNU Radio, and different related instruments allow engineers to develop advanced, high-performance algorithms with out intensive {hardware} description language (HDL) data and expertise. These developments have helped to extend the ubiquity of wi-fi networks and connectivity in each civilian and army realms and blur the traces between digital results and our on-line world.
Digital Warfare within the Cyber Area
To broaden on the subject of EW and CyberOps convergence, let’s take a look at EW within the cyber area, together with how this differs from conventional EW and the brand new challenges that come up with this integration. A key benefit of using SDRs is reconfiguration flexibility. With nearly all of previously analog radio {hardware} elements (e.g., transistors, capacitors, and many others.) now applied in software program, altering a radio’s performance could be so simple as reconfiguring these software-defined elements. This intrinsic flexibility signifies that SDRs can readily purchase a wider frequency vary of spectrum (i.e., better instantaneous bandwidth), and sometimes with a better pattern charge (i.e., extra information ingested per second). Relying on the RF front-end (antenna, pre-amplifiers, and many others.), the frequency vary of statement/ingest could be reconfigured on the fly offering enhanced spectral agility. This software-defined adaptability additionally supplies capability to shortly reconfigure modulations, waveforms, and protocols. Couple this flexibility with advances in digital sign processing and AI/ML instruments, and you may start to develop clever radios able to sensing and reacting to the electromagnetic setting at a a lot quicker charge than any human may observe, course of, react, and reconfigure. These clever radios are known as cognitive radios, and so they can present clever reconfiguration on the pace of AI.
By combining the reconfiguration flexibility of SDRs with state-of-the-art CPU/GPU processors on the edge (e.g., limited-resource, wi-fi community endpoint nodes), new sorts of capabilities could be realized. These processors are designed to function with small form-factor programs and supply customizable integration of AI/ML instruments and fashions. Much more effectivity could be gained by means of tailor-made {hardware} and software program co-design of programs, an space of energetic analysis that accounts for specifics of each software program and {hardware} efficiencies to optimize the system efficiency with educated AI/ML fashions on resource-consumption environment friendly {hardware} platforms.
Given these developments, we’re seeing the appearance of cognitive radio programs that may sense and react to the dynamic electromagnetic setting on the pace of AI. Employed in EW-type operations, they’ll shortly evade adversarial makes an attempt at degrading or denying communications (i.e., jamming), be taught from adversarial networks to spoof visitors or to wirelessly inject malicious software program, and confuse or deter adversarial communications or sensing capabilities.
Kinetic and Non-Kinetic Operations
Cyber, EW, CNO, PSYOPS (IO) are nice examples of non-kinetic operations. Kinetic operations are bodily power strategies (i.e., bombs and bullets). As outlined above, post-modern warfare now includes more and more cooperative operations between these two. This intersection contains instance strategies, resembling kinetic cyber or physical-digital assaults, the place CyberOps are employed to inflict bodily injury, resembling grid shutdowns or overriding security controls, in industrial programs to trigger destruction. Examples of EW supporting bodily operations embody jamming (non-kinetic) to disrupt communications, radar, and navigation, blinding the adversary earlier than or throughout a standard kinetic assault. In parallel with kinetic operations, PSYOPS – info or affect operations that make the most of propaganda, disinformation, and/or misinformation – degrades public assist in addition to the opponent’s potential to make choices. As the extent of worldwide interconnectivity continues to develop, social media platforms present environment friendly and impactful avenues to achieve many targets with these IO strategies. A couple of key examples of EW to assist bodily operations embody cyber-physical sabotage (i.e., hacking into industrial management programs (ICS) to destroy elements), countering uncrewed autonomous programs (UAS) with lasers or high-power radio frequency (RF) to destroy or disable drones with out using conventional ammunition, and utilizing EW strategies for blinding or manipulating sensors to disclaim navigation, as seen in lots of latest conflicts (see right here and right here).
EW-CyberOps Convergence Impression on Technique and Doctrine
As famous in our introduction, this persevering with development in direction of the convergence of EW and CyberOps could be seen within the strategic route and doctrines of many United States authorities organizations. The Joint Publication 3-85: Joint Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations revealed on 22 Might 2020 “supplies basic rules and steerage for planning, executing, and assessing joint electromagnetic spectrum operations (JEMSO) throughout the competitors continuum.”
The DoD Electromagnetic Spectrum Superiority Technique, revealed in October 2020, outlines mixed freedom of motion within the electromagnetic spectrum, particularly:
Freedom of motion within the electromagnetic spectrum, on the time, place, and parameters of our selecting, is a required precursor to the profitable conduct of operations in all domains. Forces in 2030 and past can be able to combat and win by means of the deliberate, institutional pursuit of EMS superiority. This enterprise-wide situation of strategic benefit will end result from unified efforts to create circumstances for fulfillment in congested, contested, and constrained EMOEs.
The important thing gadgets to notice listed below are time, place, and parameters of our selecting which signifies the necessity for U.S. DoD superiority in functionality and unified efforts to create circumstances for fulfillment in congested, contested, and constrained EMOEs (Electromagnetic Operational Environments), which is arguably realized by the convergence technological ideas proposed on this put up.
The US Air Drive (USAF) doctrine on Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations (EMSO), AFDP 3-85, supplies an in depth background on EMSO and EW, in addition to an excellent high-level illustration of electromagnetic threats. There may be additionally a name for airmen to develop EMS consciousness, engagement, and maneuver capabilities, which we’ll focus on in additional element within the subsequent part. Most related to our dialogue right here, Appendix A particulars the mixing of our on-line world and electromagnetic spectrum operations.
The US Area Drive (USSF) has additionally just lately revealed doctrine, in September 2025, relating to spectrum superiority and using EMSO to realize and exploit benefit within the area area. That is outlined within the Area Coaching and Readiness Command (STARCOM) publication SDP 3-104. Just like the above publications from different branches, the USSF covers a variety of matters on the topic; nonetheless there, additionally just like the others, the significance of joint all-domain converged capabilities between EW and CyberOps is talked about in a number of locations.
Alternative for Coaching Enhancement
With the continued transfer in direction of the mixing of strategies and capabilities of EW and CyberOps, there may be an important want for brand spanking new abilities and experience for professionals in each fields. To develop a workforce that may work in CyberOps and EW, we have to breakdown conventional silos in training, coaching, and assignments that persist in each domains. Growing and selling training and coaching alternatives to power cross-collaboration and technical understanding in these two domains will assist to coach operators, commanders, and the workforce in navigating the holistic built-in panorama. Authorities leaders ought to give attention to fostering a coaching pipeline to upskill employees within the cyber and digital domains, together with associated developments in AI. Via dual-domain collaborations and coaching, we are able to develop modern approaches to CyberOps and EW convergence guaranteeing that the US warfighter maintains spectral dominance within the advanced interconnected world setting. The aim of this enhanced coaching is to construct a bench of mastery for the challenges and alternatives afforded by the development in direction of convergences of EW and CyberOps. Underpinning EW and CyberOps convergence implementation is software program. Software program is essential to all features from the SDRs and CyberOps instruments to the AI/ML instruments and fashions, to the connection that enables programs of programs to function, talk, and share information. By guaranteeing the training, coaching, and assignments additionally combine an understanding of software program instruments and vulnerabilities, the workforce can be higher positioned to innovate outdoors of domain-related silos and envision holistic options to challenges and gaps in EW and CyberOps convergence pushed post-modern warfare.
The Way forward for EW-CyberOps Convergence
The way forward for EW and CyberOps convergence will proceed to be pushed by technological breakthroughs, or paradigm shifts within the following fields: cognitive radio programs, subsequent technology communications, AI/ML instruments, autonomous programs, multi-domain integration, quantum computing, superior supplies improvement, and vitality harvesting.
As beforehand mentioned, the continued improvement of SDRs and cognitive radio programs facilitates extra versatile, adaptive EW programs that may quickly reconfigure operational parameters to counter rising threats or exploit vulnerabilities in adversarial networks. Supplemented by rollouts of subsequent technology wi-fi networks (e.g., 6G mobile) and proliferated low-earth orbit (pLEO) satellite tv for pc constellations, new alternatives will come up from the presents of decrease latency, enhance bandwidth, and enhanced connectivity throughout numerous operational eventualities and environments. These developments may allow extra agile, distributed, and resilient networked warfare capabilities.
Continued developments in AI/ML instruments and their software will doubtless result in better autonomy in EW programs, constructing on real-time risk detection capabilities that may inform adaptive countermeasures and predictive modeling of adversarial behaviors in our on-line world. Coupled with the rising pervasiveness of swarm intelligence and autonomous programs, this might allow coordinated EW and CyberOps actions scaled throughout a lot of gadgets and nodes. These mixed capabilities will lead to extra strong, resilient, and adaptive defenses whereas additionally augmenting offensive capabilities by means of actions resembling deception, persistent surveillance, and overwhelming assaults.
Future EW and CyberOps convergence may additionally contain the event of a number of area Command, Management, Communications, Computer systems, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) architectures that may seamlessly combine sensing, processing, decision-making, and activation of capabilities. This multi-domain integration will doubtless embody land, air, area, maritime, and our on-line world (plus EMS) domains making a unified battlespace the place EW capabilities are prolonged to those realms. This convergence may result in novel techniques, strategies, and procedures that exploit the mixing of those domains.
Quantum computer systems have the potential to revolutionize many features of contemporary computing. From the EW-and-CyberOps-convergence perspective, they might allow quicker sign processing, superior encryption/decryption algorithms, and enhanced vulnerability assessments.
Continued analysis into superior supplies may produce novel supplies with tailor-made electromagnetic properties designed to reinforce efficiency of EW programs thus enabling simpler deception, jamming, or digital safety. As well as, future improvements in vitality harvesting applied sciences may allow autonomous, self-sustaining nodes that may be deployed throughout massive areas or in unattended environments.
Because the convergence of EW and CyberOps continues to advance, it would turn into more and more necessary to handle authorized, moral, and normative challenges which might be related to these capabilities. By anticipating and making ready for these potential improvements and paradigm shifts, leaders, policymakers, and researchers can higher navigate the quickly evolving panorama of EW and CyberOps convergence guaranteeing that capabilities stay efficient, accountable, and aligned to strategic targets. This may contain new worldwide agreements, home rules, or organizational tips that strike the steadiness between army necessity and accountable utilization within the employment of converged EW and CyberOps applied sciences and capabilities.
Work with the SEI
In in the present day’s panorama, it may possibly typically really feel like “each enterprise is a software program enterprise.” That sentiment applies to mission programs as nicely, and it continues to encroach on wi-fi communication and sensor programs. On the SEI, we possess deep experience in software program engineering, cybersecurity and CyberOps, and AI engineering in addition to experience in RF and sensor programs. Our overlap of expertise and experience inside these areas enable us to give attention to the software-defined features of radio and wi-fi communications, sensor, and autonomous programs, together with creating agile, cutting-edge software program implementations and libraries, understanding and optimizing AI instruments for spectral superiority, and guaranteeing the resilience, robustness, and reliability of advanced system of system with intensive cybersecurity design and implementation experience. SEI researchers are working to enhance RF propagation modeling effectivity by means of AI-enabled applied sciences, modernizing functionality and efficiency by means of cognitive radio functions, and in-depth modeling and simulation of autonomous programs. We search to use AI engineering in autonomy, RF communications, cybersecurity and CyberOps, software program improvement and engineering, and adversarial AI. We offer cybersecurity expertise and experience throughout DoW programs together with complete system understanding for improvement, implementation, and sustainment of DCO throughout enterprise and DCO of AI-enabled programs. On the SEI, we’re all the time trying to work with group leaders in EW and RF fields to collaborate on challenges and alternatives associated to the mixing and operationalization of EW and CyberOps converged programs.
To be taught extra about our work researching, testing, and evaluating matters on the convergence of EW and CyberOps within the realms of wi-fi communication and sensor programs, or to collaborate with us, please electronic mail [email protected].