In the dynamic, constantly evolving world we live in today, it’s not uncommon or unreasonable for people to expect to achieve multiple things at once. As the technology we turn to on a daily basis becomes smarter and more capable, it’s only natural to seek the same ease across other aspects of life. Smart TVs offer streaming services, phones offer endless applications and cars offer inbuilt entertainment facilities. This concept of convenient, flexible, multifunctional capability has become so commonplace it can often be taken for granted.
When this ability is no longer available, it feels unfamiliar and restrictive, impeding progress. This can be particularly jarring in environments where decisions need to be made quickly and agility is key, such as today’s modern battlespace. Adopting a multirole, multifunction approach to electronic warfare (EW) can make a big difference. L3Harris Technologies’ portfolio of next-generation EW technology makes it possible to harness multiple capabilities within a single system, maximising mission agility.
Why Multirole EW Makes Soldiers’ Missions Easier
It is often the case that military personnel have to carry or transport several different EW systems at once to achieve all of the capabilities they need. All this gear creates a considerable burden, not to mention the significant capital expenditure required to procure, support and replace these systems when they reach end of life. Moreover, adversaries are increasingly replacing offensive technologies with repurposed commercial-off-the-shelf devices that grant them access to evolving capabilities. To stay ahead of this shifting threat landscape, it’s important for troops to be able to adapt to change as rapidly as possible. Multirole EW makes this agility possible. Following an operational expenditure model rather than a capital one, it replaces the need for lengthy hardware procurements with timely software upgrades. Because multirole EW systems can be software-defined, the hardware stays the same while software applications are loaded at will to achieve different capabilities, allowing rapid reconfiguration in the field. This also reduces the physical and operational burden; by making all required capabilities available from a single system, there’s no need to carry multiple pieces of equipment anymore.
L3Harris’ EW Systems Were Built with Multirole in Mind
L3Harris’ Individual CORVUS Node (ICN), Portable CORVUS Node (PCN) and Configurable CORVUS System (CCS) offer multiple EW capabilities, including mission roles such as electronic surveillance, electronic attack, counter-improvised explosive device (C-IED), counter-small unmanned aircraft system (C-sUAS) and more. This means troops can stay protected from land-based threats by harnessing C-IED capability as well as maintaining the ability to detect, track and identify aerial threats, all while conducting an ISTAR mission.
Under 2 kg, ICN can be fixed at a base, vehicle-mounted or carried. It enables users to achieve multirole, multifunction and multidomain EW capability in a small form factor, delivering optimal performance without compromising freedom of manoeuvre. Fixed, vehicle- or semi-mounted, CCS rapidly roles and re-roles applications to suit evolving mission needs while the PCN is designed to be carried, transported on a vehicle or dismounted.
Paving the Way for the Future of EW
This leading-edge, disruptive approach to EW leads to increased mission agility, impressive lifecycle savings, tactical and strategic interoperability and no vendor lock-in. The modest size of the ICN, PCN and CCS systems is also a considerable step forward in alleviating size, weight and power challenges. Built on an open standards-based architecture, the systems deliver apps developed by customers, by partners or by trusted developers, revolutionising how mission-critical EW capability is harnessed across the battlespace. Find out more about how L3Harris’ multirole EW systems enable superior mission agility here.