Electromagnetic Warfare

Electromagnetic Warfare

Plextek’s EW Expertise: Diverse skills for diverse challenges

  • EW threats multiplying faster than you can build internal capabilities?
  • Radio Frequency (RF) engineering talent becoming increasingly difficult to recruit?

Plextek provides immediate access to 35+ years of proven RF expertise, reducing development risk while accelerating time-to-market.

Why RF matters

In today’s world, finding RF expertise is becoming increasingly challenging. As many young scientists and engineers gravitate toward software, machine learning, AI, or data science in general, the supply of strong RF engineering and analogue circuit design skills is becoming increasingly scarce. At the same time, however, more systems rely on RF – whether for sensing or communications – and the electromagnetic environment is becoming more complex, requiring ongoing RF systems expertise and innovation.

Plextek combines decades of RF experience with a strong understanding of military needs, providing a unique combination of much-needed engineering skills and customer insight.

With extensive engineering experience, coupled with technical and domain knowledge, Plextek provides customers with a proven, reliable partner ready to solve some of the most challenging RF and EW problems.

Evolving EW landscape

The ever-changing scope and diversification of the EW threat continue to grow. Major conflicts involving multiple disparate state actors and affiliated subgroups have propelled the use of adversarial EW techniques. Rapid innovation – focused on low-cost, modified, non-military-grade technologies deployed at pace and volume – is enabling forces to make environments contested electromagnetically over wide areas. Operating within these contested environments, these forces demonstrate technological superiority and operational resilience, deterring adversaries and forcing them to invest heavily to match and counter capabilities. This creates a competitive asymmetry in which peer and near-peer adversaries find it difficult to overcome the EW threat.

Niche Expertise

Whether it’s a commercial airline whose navigation systems are affected by Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) jamming near conflict zones, the battlefield soldier deprived of a critical communication link, or a missile defence radar operator unable to engage incoming ballistic missiles, a wide range of entities are threatened by offensive EW.

Plextek’s decades of RF expertise maps to this complex EW reality. We have developed solutions to problems involving some of the most complex weapons on the battlefield as well as developed novel methods of responding to niche EW problems. We have supplied RF equipment to lead integrators and conducted basic and applied research to demonstrate uses of low-SWaP/cost, commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) radars in new situations. We specialise in understanding the customer’s unique RF needs then tailoring a solution to broaden their capabilities.

Plextek’s ability to develop solutions to even the most complex RF problems and our deep understanding of the related signal processing and algorithmic requirements of a variety of sensors enable us to ensure our customers offer the most competitive capabilities on the market.

The Plextek Advantage

Example platform integration of a Modular EW Payload on a SUAS
Example platform integration of a Modular EW Payload on a SUAS

Plextek is built on RF expertise. Our deep knowledge of RF hardware and signal processing powers everything we dofrom communications and radar systems to EW and RF-based navigation alternatives.  

RF hardware development
  • Significantly reduce your prototype-to-production cycles. We design and manufacture bespoke RF hardware including antennas, power supplies, and configurable processing units for complex EW applications. Our capabilities extend to prototype reprogrammable jammers, RF decoy systems, and providing outsourced R&D and manufacturing services for lead integrators.
Signal analysis & technique development
  • Improve your detection accuracy. Our advanced signal processing expertise encompasses LPI signal design and analysis, alongside ML-based signal classification for enhanced threat detection. We develop novel home-on-jam algorithms specifically optimised for low-SWaP UAS platforms, enabling autonomous counter-EW capabilities.
Modelling & simulation work
  • We provide comprehensive modelling capabilities covering EA effects, EM propagation analysis, and distributed EA performance from swarming UAS operations. Our simulation suite includes EA system performance assessment and signature analysis to support mission planning and system optimisation.
Test & evaluation
  • Our test facilities deliver signature measurements, EMI/EMC performance analysis, and alternative navigation system evaluation. We conduct live demonstrations of fractionated ESM capabilities, providing validated performance data for critical EW systems integration.
Training & standards development
  • We develop specialised comms jammer training units to enhance operational readiness and support realistic EW training scenarios. Our expertise contributes to NATO standards development committees and UK MoD EW research initiatives, shaping future EW doctrine and capabilities.

Example collaborative swarming electronic attack scenario

  • 01
    Communications
  • 02
    Electronic Jamming
  • 03
    Co-ordinated flight path
  • 04
    Target
Example collaborative swarming electronic attack scenario

What sets us apart when it comes to EW?

Plextek has developed RF systems spanning frequencies from VLF (3 kHz) to V-band (>70 GHz), covering most bands in between. These systems have been deployed on the ground, in the air, and in space. Our work ranges from low-TRL research to delivering finished products and supporting customers through electromagnetic compliance testing. We have provided RF solutions across multiple sectors, including defence, security, logistics, industrial, medical, and communications.

This diverse set of experiences allows us to draw from a wide range of expertise when helping our customers add capabilities to their portfolios. Our cross-domain expertise eliminates the need for multiple specialised vendors, reducing integration risk and project management overhead while accelerating delivery timelines.

Very few companies have a majority of their employees familiar with and able to develop solutions for such a broad set of technical challenges. Yet at Plextek, it is completely routine for engineers to be simultaneously working on an RF communications task, while developing AI/ML algorithms, while supporting test range activity. The crossover of expertise that arises from such diverse task lists significantly increases the value and perspective Plextek provides to its customers.

The EW environment in modern warfare is evolving at an increasingly rapid rate. Plextek combines decades of RF expertise with modern techniques like AI and machine learning to ensure our customers are able to overmatch emerging threats.

Ben Skinner, EW Solutions Specialist


Applications & use cases

As a diverse consultancy that works across several technical fields, Plextek smoothly combines effective techniques from different domains to synthesise new solutions.

When companies consult with Plextek for RF hardware and analytic services, those companies access decades of domain expertise and can get their product to market faster.

Over the past few years, we have developed – and are continuing to pioneer – the use of object classification algorithms used in electro-optic applications for use in the RF domain. Shown is an example of a Mask Region-based Convolutional Neural Network (R-CNN) trained to classify signatures on an RF spectrogram, even in the presence of overlapping signals and background noise.

Automatic signal detection and labeling. The two examples show two overlapping signals being correctly classified in a spectrogram image.
Automatic signal detection and labeling. The two examples show two overlapping signals being correctly classified in a spectrogram image.

This use case aimed to identify the presence of RF triggers used to detonate IEDs. We are working on a similar approach to classifying objects in a radar’s scene, leveraging the power of machine learning to recognise fine details and often imperceptible features. This approach could be used a radar monitoring a busy street or workspace and help find and report on anomalies. Another use case is aiding a long-range radar monitoring a vast airspace. Below is a representation of a complex target scene where object classification techniques can be trained for specific customers’ needs.


Rapid RF propagation using ML

This example shows Plextek’s rapid electromagnetic propagation analysis tool.

This software suite ingests a user-selected map and rapidly calculates the signal power density at all points within the map.

Whilst other tools offer a similar service, our approach supports easy map (or scene) ingestion and leverages ML to quickly and accurately estimate the signal strength.

This tool enables users to optimise deployment of RF systems during mission planning, particularly when operating in unfamiliar terrain or complex urban environments. Along with determining how to maximise jammer strength in selected areas, the toolset allows uses to minimise it in protected areas, thus quantifiably reducing fratricide. It also highlights the often counter-intuitive ways certain structures or natural objects can alter the propagation of electromagnetic waves. This tool helps users rapidly emplace emitters to maximise the effect without allocating too much time to the process.

The hallmark advantage of this toolset is that it estimates the jammer’s signal strength across large swathes of land, orders of magnitude faster than other methods. It can do this across any terrain or urban space and can characterise signals ranging in frequency from hundreds of MHz to tens of GHz. It operates on Windows and Linux platforms and is well-documented to enable any EW novice to use the tool confidently. Finally, the toolset can ingest a wide variety of maps and terrain images

EW Training Aid

In addition to simulations and planning tools, Plextek is developing a suite of hardware training aids to support communications EW. This kit offers a low-cost, highly flexible method for training soldiers to detect and mitigate communications jamming. It contains a control unit and multiple jammer nodes, enabling instructors to configure and control the jamming signals to replicate genuine threats. Soldiers undergoing training gain highly representative experience operating in a contested environment and are able to develop and consolidate their tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs).

Remote Control (PLX-TJRC)
Accelerating the Next Generation of Electromagnetic Warfare
Accelerating the Next Generation of Electromagnetic Warfare

UK's £1 billion electromagnetic warfare investment risks failure without urgent procurement reform to match the pace of modern battlefield innovation.

Addressing the Escalation in GNSS Spoofing with Data Fusion
Addressing the Escalation in GNSS Spoofing with Data Fusion

Plextek's data fusion technology helps maritime vessels maintain navigation accuracy during increasing GNSS spoofing attacks.

ClearSpace with Partners. Image © ClearSpace
Driving Radar Innovation for Space in the CLEAR Mission

Plextek Supports ClearSpace in Completing Phase 2 of Mission CLEAR, Strengthening UK’s Leadership In Orbit Services.

Why Radar is Becoming Essential in Mission Assurance

Recent high profile reports of lunar lander failures due to loss of altitude and doppler sensing data show the necessity for a suite of sensors, making radar now essential for mission assurance.

5G/6G and Satellites Global Connectivity Revolution
5G/6G and Satellites: Global Connectivity Revolution

Exploring how the integration of 5G/6G technologies with satellite networks is transforming global connectivity through Non-Terrestrial Networks and Direct-to-Device communication.

Measuring micro-debris in real-time and enabling a safer LEO with next generation space radar
Measuring Micro-Debris in LEO with Next-Gen Space Radar

Detecting micro-debris in real-time is key to safer space operations. Next-gen mmWave radar technology enables high-resolution tracking of even the smallest fragments in LEO, reducing collision risks and enhancing space situational awareness. Discover how this innovation supports a more sustainable orbital future.

Yocto or PetaLinux
Yocto or PetaLinux?

Our comprehensive comparison of PetaLinux and Yocto, focusing on system requirements, build engines, and build outputs for developing embedded systems.

Kevin Cobley discussing 5G and the role of Non-Terrestrial Networks
The Future of Connectivity: 5G, 6G, and Space-Based Networks

As industries push the boundaries of global connectivity, the integration of 5G and drive towards 6G with satellite and space-based networks is unlocking new opportunities. Kevin Cobley, an expert in this evolving field, shares his insights on the challenges and innovations shaping the future of non-terrestrial networks (NTN).

Patent Pending: Plextek's substrate integrated waveguide design boosts efficiency, achieving a greater range
Optimizing mmWave radar capabilities with Texas Instruments

Plextek and Texas Instruments: Optimizing mmWave radar capabilities to solve key design challenges

Augmenting UAV Safety with Ubiquitous Radar Technology
Augmenting UAV Safety with Ubiquitous Radar Technology

Enhancing UAV safety with ubiquitous radar tech for detect and avoid capabilities in shared airspace.

Simulated 3D radiation pattern for HF multiple-tuned antenna
Efficient Multiple-Tuned Antenna for HF Comms

Developing innovative, compact and efficient multiple-tuned antenna for HF communications, enhancing connectivity in challenging environments.

Urban Challenges Rapid RF Propagation Modelling
Urban Challenges: Rapid RF Propagation Modelling

Discover the challenges and solutions for accurately modelling RF propagation in urban settings. Explore the innovative neural network model revolutionising urban RF systems.

Radar

Discover how these innovations in Ubiquitous Radar, Terrain Reference Navigation (TRN), and our configurable mmWave platform can enhance operational safety, efficiency, and security in defence applications.

Alternative PNT

As part of our commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation, we offer specialised Alternative PNT solutions within the Defence sector.

Contact a member of our team

Got a complex EW challenge?

Whether it’s RF hardware design, custom simulation tools, or emissions measurement, we help to solve it.

Contact Plextek today: we’ll deploy our proven capabilities and build exactly what you need.