The U.S. Army has been continuously strengthening its electronic warfare capabilities in recent years, especially in the application of reconnaissance and attack drones.cell phone jammer In the summer of 2023, the Multi-Function Electronic Warfare-Air Large Project (MFEW-AL) pod developed by Lockheed Martin was successfully tested on an MC-12W Liberty turboprop aircraft.GPS jammer This marks that the flexibility and adaptability of the MFEW-AL system on the future battlefield have been further verified.Wifi jammer

　　Design and background of the MFEW-AL system

　　The MFEW-AL system is one of the key projects for the U.S. Army to resume investment in electronic warfare technology.drone jammer Due to the withdrawal of funds in the early years, the Army's electronic warfare capabilities have been weakened. GSM jammerHowever, as the battlefield environment becomes more complex and the military's need for electromagnetic spectrum control becomes more urgent, the MFEW-AL project has been revived. signal jammerLockheed Martin designed a stand-alone pod for the system, which was originally planned to be mounted on the MQ-1C Gray Eagle drone manufactured by General Atomics. However, as the project progressed, the potential applications of MFEW-AL gradually expanded to cover a wider range of platforms.

　　During the test, the MC-12W Liberty aircraft performed multiple tasks as a test platform. This turboprop aircraft is usually used as an executor of medium and low altitude intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. This successful flight test not only proved the effectiveness of the MFEW-AL system, but also demonstrated its flexibility, that is, the pod can operate on different platforms. In fact, the US Air Force has also shown interest in integrating the system into the A-10 attack aircraft, which opens up more possibilities for the future application of the MFEW-AL system.

　　The core of battlefield electromagnetic spectrum control

　　The essence of electronic warfare is a high-tech cat-and-mouse game around the electromagnetic spectrum. In modern warfare, the military needs to rely on the electromagnetic spectrum for communication, navigation and weapon guidance, and the effective control of this spectrum will determine the advantage in combat. The main task of the MFEW-AL system is to detect, interfere with and destroy the enemy's communication and radar networks, thereby weakening the opponent's combat capabilities.

　　A major technical highlight of the MFEW-AL system is its modular design. Lockheed Martin has designed a "Lego"-like plug-and-play modular framework for the system, the C5ISR Electronic Warfare Modular Open Standard Kit (CMOSS). The core of CMOSS is to embed various key functions (such as communications, time synchronization, mission planning, etc.) into a standardized chassis through modular processing. This flexible design not only shortens the development cycle, but also improves the efficiency of equipment maintenance, making the equipment on the battlefield more resilient.

　　Test progress and future plans of the MFEW-AL system

　　As of August 2023, the MFEW-AL system has completed more than 200 hours of test flights at the China Lake Weapons Range in California. The test results show that the system is stable in hardware and software configuration. Brigadier General Ed Barker, the executive officer of the Army's intelligence, electronic warfare and sensors program, said that the current development test of the system is going very smoothly, and more tests will be conducted in the near future to ensure the technical maturity of MFEW-AL.

　　In addition to the current test results, Lockheed Martin also plans to continue additional flight tests in the coming months and use feedback to continuously optimize the technology. The system is expected to obtain airworthiness certification in fiscal year 2024, which will officially enter the US Army's electronic warfare toolbox and enhance the US military's combat capabilities on future battlefields.

　　Lockheed Martin's continued innovation in electronic warfare

　　Lockheed Martin is not only the core developer of the MFEW-AL system, but also participates in other important electronic warfare projects of the Army. For example, the Land Base System-Brigade Combat Team (TLS-BCT) and the Land Base System-Brigade and Above Echelon (TLS-EAB) are both key projects for the US Army to enhance signal intelligence and electronic warfare capabilities. In April 2023, Lockheed Martin received a $73 million contract to integrate TLS technology into the Stryker combat vehicle manufactured by General Dynamics, and plans to apply the technology to BAE Systems' armored multi-purpose vehicles in the future.