Airbus, bKEC, HENSOLDT, IBM, MBDA, PLATH, Rohde & Schwarz, and Schönhofer collaborated on the demonstration, which simulated the evacuation of German citizens from a crisis zone. The scenario involved a Pilatus PC-12 aircraft acting as a stand-off jammer, a simulated Airbus A400M transport aircraft, a SHARCS unmanned technology demonstrator, and an SA-8 missile system representing enemy defences.
The PC-12, equipped with electromagnetic surveillance and jamming systems, identified the SA-8 from a safe distance and rendered it inoperable through targeted jamming. As a result, the simulated A400M was able to fly into the crisis zone undetected, land, and carry out the evacuation mission.
The SHARCS platform acted as a stand-in jammer, suppressing enemy communications and delaying their response. Data collected during the mission was processed and analysed using artificial intelligence within a secure cloud infrastructure, ensuring real-time coordination between all units.
“The demonstration showed how effectively forces of electromagnetic combat (EC) can operate and protect friendly forces during missions,” the industry team stated. “Since EC operates without ammunition and is non-kinetic, there is also no damage.”
This demonstration marks a significant milestone for the German defence project “luftgestützte Wirkung im elektromagnetischen Spektrum” (Airborne Effects in the Electromagnetic Spectrum), known as luWES. The participating companies aim to enable Germany to independently develop and deploy EC capabilities under the motto “EC made in Germany for Germany.”
The luWES initiative is designed as a “system of systems” featuring modular and complementary subsystems that ensure electromagnetic protection from the air. These include stand-off jammers that neutralise threats from a distance, escort jammers that accompany manned aircraft and disrupt enemy defences, and stand-in jammers that engage directly within contested airspace.
