The world of electronic warfare is a complex and ever-evolving battleground where invisible wars demand visible action. In this arena, coalition electronic warfare, interoperability, and spectrum superiority are crucial factors that will determine victories in future near-peer conflicts. The recent 52nd annual Collaborative Electronic Warfare Symposium held at Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu, brought together nearly 500 electronic warfare leaders from the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom for the first time.
The symposium, co-hosted by the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division and the Association of Old Crows, focused on collaboration and innovation in EW, uniting government and industry partners worldwide. One of the key challenges discussed was the need for standardized doctrines, aligned classification standards, and compatible technological platforms to ensure seamless operations in the electromagnetic spectrum for coalition forces.
The theme of this year’s symposium, “Coalition EW in Near-Peer Conflict,” highlighted the importance of interoperability across coalition EW operations in various domains, from ground and airstrike to naval combat. The event aimed to enhance coalition readiness for near-peer conflicts by bringing together military officers, civilian specialists, and young professionals to discuss the critical role of effective coalition EW in future battles.
A significant achievement of the symposium was the inclusion of the United Kingdom in the discussions, marking the first-ever tri-national Collaborative EW Symposium. This milestone was made possible by the efforts of Dave Mohler, NAWCWD’s Airborne Electronic Attack International Programs lead, who worked tirelessly to expand the partnership to include the UK alongside the US and Australia. The collaboration under the AUKUS agreement has paved the way for deeper cooperation in EW, setting a blueprint for dominating the electromagnetic spectrum.
The symposium also showcased next-generation EW technologies from government and industry partners across the three AUKUS nations, including advanced directed energy weapons, compact jammers, radar alternatives, and innovative command-and-control systems for EMS operations. The strategic panel featured key leaders from the US, UK, and Australia, emphasizing the importance of leveraging each other’s technologies and expertise to prevail as partners in future conflicts.
The discussions at the symposium highlighted the critical need for tight coordination, clear strategy, and constant adaptation to win the battle in the electromagnetic spectrum. The AUKUS partners are moving beyond theoretical debates to aligning policy, doctrine, and joint operational planning to address evolving threats effectively. Plans for a tri-nation EW experiment in 2025 focused on hypersonic threats and adversarial AI-driven spectrum denial demonstrate the commitment of the coalition to stay ahead in the invisible war.
In conclusion, the Collaborative Electronic Warfare Symposium served as a platform for the AUKUS partners to drive successful outcomes for the coalition in the years to come. The symposium showcased the importance of trust, technology, and tempo in outmatching any near-peer coalition in the spectrum fight. AUKUS is not just an agreement; it is the strategic frequency that coalition forces must tune into to dominate the electromagnetic spectrum battlefield.
