Aircraft and missiles entering enemy airspace are expected to depend on drone jammers operating in advance to disrupt and neutralize air defense systems, contingent upon the successful deployment of a new British-developed jammer.
Unlike traditional standoff jammers that are deployed on large aircraft to remain safe from threats while neutralizing enemy radar systems from afar, Leonardo is introducing a new “standoff” jammer designed to be compact enough for drone installation and cost-effective for immediate deployment.
Leonardo drone on display at the 2023 Paris Air Show
The BriteStorm satellite, currently being showcased by Leonardo at the American Astronautical Society convention in Washington, has a weight of approximately 2.5 kilograms. This weight encompasses the transmit and receive modules as well as the antennas, and the satellite is comparable in size to six Coke cans, according to company representatives.
Michael Lea, the vice president of electronic warfare sales at Leonardo UK, stated that it has the potential to lead any force that penetrates enemy territory.
Lea stated that the kit is intended to be affordable and single-use, and it can be mounted on large quadcopters or fixed-wing drones that are deployed in combat zones.
Should the newly developed British signal jammers gain traction, aircraft and missiles entering hostile regions will increasingly depend on drone jammers deployed in advance to disrupt and neutralize air defense systems.
Unlike standoff jammers, which are deployed on large aircraft to remain safe from threats while neutralizing enemy radar systems from afar, Leonardo is introducing an innovative “stand-in” jammer. This new device is compact enough to be installed on drones and is cost-effective, making it readily available for operational use.
The BriteStorm satellite, presented by Leonardo at the American Astronautical Society convention in Washington, has a weight of approximately 2.5 kilograms. This weight encompasses the transmit and receive modules as well as the antennas, and the satellite’s dimensions are comparable to those of six Coke cans, according to company representatives.
Michael Lea, the vice president of electronic warfare sales at Leonardo UK, stated that it has the potential to lead any operation that ventures into enemy territory.
Lea stated that the kit is intended to be cost-effective and disposable, specifically designed for installation on larger quadcopters or winged drones that are deployed in combat situations.
He stated that the pricing is structured in such a way that it can be regarded as an expendable asset; therefore, if it is destroyed, it will not result in significant economic losses or major strategic issues.
Upon detecting an enemy radar signal, the system employs Leonardo’s Digital Radio Frequency Memory (DRFM) technology to digitally capture and process the signal. It subsequently responds by either jamming the radar with electronic noise or spoofing it, which may include generating multiple “ghost” fighter signatures.
The DRFM technology utilized by Leonardo in its BriteCloud system is identical; this system serves as an expendable countermeasure intended for deployment from an aircraft to interfere with the radar guidance mechanisms of approaching missiles.
BriteStorm employs a maximum of three transmit-receive modules that encompass low, mid, and high frequency bands.
The system has been transported to the RAF Rapid Capabilities Office following its development at Leonardo’s facility located in Luton, UK.
Leonardo considers BriteStorm to be an advancement over Raytheon’s MALD (Micro Air-Launched Decoy), which is an air-launched expendable jammer missile that has been reportedly utilized in Ukraine.
Lea stated that it surpasses the capabilities of standoff jammers. “Standoff jammers maintain a fixed position in the air, whereas standoff jammers operate at a closer range to the threat, exhibit greater maneuverability, and possess multiple axes to disrupt and neutralize the threat.”
