How advanced RF technologies underpin modern electronic warfare
- Global Military Communications
- 1 minute ago
- 2 min read
In January 2025, a Ryanair flight was forced to abort its landing due to GPS interference near NATO’s border with Russia. Incidents like these highlight the increasing threat posed by RF jamming and its growing importance in both commercial and military arenas. For defense organizations jamming is not just a hazard it’s a weapon.
By Peter Krier, Chief Scientific Officer at RF and mm-Wave specialist Filtronic
In military operations, jamming is a powerful offensive tool. By intentionally disrupting enemy communications, radar, or navigation systems armed forces can degrade the enemy’s situational awareness and response capability. This can range from blinding early warning systems to confusing missile guidance in order to provide a critical tactical edge.
In an increasingly digital battlespace, Electronic Countermeasures (ECM) continue to be central to mission success. Within that toolbox, RF jamming and deception systems, including expendable decoys, are proving especially vital for survivability in contested environments.
The rise of decoy technologies
Modern warfare increasingly relies on sophisticated RF deception to mislead and overload enemy sensors. One example is the use of Digital RF Memory (DRFM) systems which capture incoming radar signals, manipulate them, and rebroadcast them with modified characteristics. This can create false targets, shift perceived locations, or simulate multiple assets — all designed to confuse targeting systems and waste enemy firepower.
Filtronic’s expertise in high-frequency RF components and systems supports this kind of deception with technologies capable of operating reliably under extreme conditions and with ultra-low latency — a critical requirement for real-time threat countermeasures.
Expendable decoys in action
Beyond platform-mounted systems, expendable active decoys are playing an increasingly prominent role in aerial and naval defense. Unlike traditional passive methods like chaff and flares, these systems actively emit radio frequency signals to mimic the radar signature of a real platform. Deployed from aircraft or ships, they act as false targets, luring radar-guided missiles away from actual assets. Modern decoys are now programmable, capable of adapting to different threat environments mid-flight.
Building effective jamming architectures
Successful jamming isn’t only about brute force. It requires precision, adaptability, and robust RF performance. This is particularly true as the spectrum becomes increasingly congested, with both commercial and military systems operating side-by-side.
High-power amplifiers, tuneable filters, and wideband transceivers are essential building blocks for next generation jamming systems. These components enable real-time targeting of enemy frequencies while protecting friendly receivers from unintentional interference. Furthermore, advances in networking of deployed devices are allowing jamming and decoy systems to identify and prioritise targets faster, making them more effective against agile and intelligent threats.
Looking ahead
In the battlespace, denying the enemy’s ability to see, hear, or communicate is extremely valuable. As adversaries invest in increasingly sophisticated radar and communication technologies, the demand for agile, intelligent, and powerful jamming and deception systems will only grow.
