BAE Systems unveils Shadow EW payloads for small aircraft, production from 2027
Article excerpt
BAE Systems has unveiled a family of electronic warfare payloads weighing around 3 kilograms (7 pounds), designed to bring electronic sensing, targeting, and deception capabilities to small aircraft and drones. The Shadow EW range reflects a shift toward distributing electronic warfare across multiple platforms, including potentially expendable drones, instead of relying exclusively on specialized aircraft. BAE Systems has yet to announce a customer, integration contract, or platform selected to carry them. The first variant, Shadow EW 100, is scheduled for production in 2027. Weighing 3.3 kilograms (7.2 pounds), it covers frequencies from 70 MHz to 6 GHz while consuming less than 150 watts. Shadow EW 120, planned for 2028, extends coverage down to 5 MHz, while retaining similar dimensions, weight, and power requirements. The third variant, Shadow EW 500, is expected in 2029. Weighing approximately 3.2 kilograms (7 pounds), it will cover frequencies from 10 MHz to 18 GHz and add radio-frequency direction finding and geolocation, allowing it to help locate enemy emitters. Its power consumption reaches 250 watts. All three use commercially available processing components, including Nvidia Jetson Orin modules and programmable chips. Their open architecture allows capabilities to be modified through software updates. BAE Systems says that this approach is intended to support...
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Manufacturing will take place in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with software and design work conducted in Nashua, New Hampshire.
