Overview
- BAE Systems reported multiple flight demonstrations publicized on February 23–24, 2026, showing scaled electromagnetic attack effects from compact hardware derived from its high-power systems.
- The prototype operated in a weapon pod on a surrogate aircraft representing Group 4/5 unmanned aerial vehicles in collaboration with the U.S. Air Force.
- The system ran proven counter-C5ISRT software and incorporated a third-party application, with SOSA-compliant hardware aligned to Big Iron standards for rapid capability updates.
- Designed for distributed electronic warfare, the modular payload can be configured for weapon pods and adapted to collaborative combat aircraft, UAVs, rotary-wing aircraft, ground vehicles, surface vessels, and remotely operated weapon stations.
- BAE positions the approach as a lower-cost complement to larger EA platforms such as the EA-37B, with the capability currently at the prototype and demonstration stage without a disclosed fielding timeline.