Dominating the Invisible Battlefield: The Future of Electronic Warfare

 

Back in 2024, as we were transitioning MANTECH’s technical focus areas into the Intelligent Engineering practice we see today, we had to make a choice. We didn’t just want to support the status quo; we wanted to identify the specific domains where systems and software engineering are most critical to the future of the warfighter.

After analyzing the market and the evolving strategy of the Department of Defense, we solidified four major pillars: Space Systems, Autonomous and UnmannedSystems, Battle Management, and—perhaps most critically for the modern age—Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations and Warfare.

As we’ve seen in recent global events, from Eastern Europe to South America, electronic warfare is no longer a “support” function. It is a major piece of the operational puzzle. As our adversaries increasingly look toward non-kinetic effects, spectrum dominance is where the next decade of defense will be won or lost.

 

 

Redefining the “Horizontal” Business

 

My team is looking at this challenge horizontally. We aren’t siloed in one program; we are talking to division managers and technical leads across the entire company to assess exactly what investments we need to make to be the primary player in this space.

To achieve Spectrum Dominance, we are doubling down on our engineering environments to support:

• Advanced Signal Processing: Developing new methods to analyze signals from sensors and transmitters.
• Algorithm Detection: Building future algorithms for anomaly detection that can identify threats faster than any human operator.
• Spectrum Management: Using high-fidelity modeling and simulation to ensure our own communications remain crystal clear while we mask our operations from others.

 

 

Spotlight on Crane, Indiana: The Tip of the Spear

 

Our work with the Navy team in Crane, Indiana is a perfect example of how MANTECH is turning theory into reality.

We are currently collaborating on new concepts of operations and solutions specifically designed for Indo-Pacific scenarios. We are exploring the “what if” of tomorrow’s hardware—designing new systems based on laser technology and high-frequency capabilities.

We are developing techniques to use electronic warfare as a method of masking our operations, ensuring our forces can move and act with a level of digital invisibility.

 

 

Scaling for 2026 and Beyond

 

We are currently expanding our partner network to turn these internal scenarios into real-world hardware and software solutions. We are moving from the assessment phase into the realization phase—making spectrum dominance a tangible asset for our clients.

The future of warfare is silent, invisible, and incredibly fast. 

At MANTECH, we are ensuring that when the spectrum becomes a battlefield, our warfighters have the signal—and the shield—they need to win.