Indra is working on the development of an advanced electronic attack pod designed to jam enemy radars and communications in conflict zones, a technology available only to some of the world’s most advanced powers.
This pod - a container housing electronic warfare systems - is designed to be installed on the underside of the aircraft or under its wings and can be fitted to a wide range of platforms.
For its development, in addition to the experience acquired over more than 40 years of work in the electromagnetic spectrum, Indra is applying part of the knowledge gained in multinational R&D programs driven by the EU, such as REACT (Responsive Electronic Attack for Cooperative Tasks), an initiative in which it has coordinated the work of the continent’s main specialized companies.
The system under development is designed to conduct Escort Jammer missions, in which the aircraft leads the way into enemy territory, masking the presence of the rest of the aircraft behind it; and Stand Off Jammer (SOJ) missions, in which the aircraft equipped with this system interferes with the adversary’s surveillance systems from a safe distance, facilitating the entry of friendly or allied aircraft into enemy territory.
To deliver these capabilities, the company is integrating next generation jamming technologies based on an open architecture and equipped with high power emissions, ensuring maximum effectiveness in highly saturated environments.
Miguel García Moreno, Director of Air Dominance at Indra, explains that “these types of systems are essential for operating in modern theaters of operations, where technologically advanced adversaries possess highly sophisticated air defense systems capable of preventing or limiting air movements. We are talking about what are known as anti-access and area denial environments (A2/AD).”
The development of this system will strengthen the company’s strong leadership position in the electromagnetic spectrum domain across land, sea and air.
In the air domain, this pod complements the capabilities of the company’s self-protection suite, which includes radar, laser and missile warning receivers to provide maximum situational awareness; a sophisticated management system; and actuators based on electronic countermeasures (ECM), such as the ALQ 500P EW system in its pod version, already in service with several customers; or its advanced InShield DIRCM (Directional Infrared Counter Measures) system, which uses laser technology to deflect different types of missiles.
All these systems provide advanced jamming, early warning and threat suppression capabilities to protect aircraft from all types of surface to air and air to air attacks. Their modular architecture ensures an optimal balance between power, range and low electromagnetic signature to adapt to different mission types. This guarantees operational continuity and agile adaptation to multiple air platforms.
Indra is marketing all these solutions in the international market and recently presented at the Dubai Air Show both its ALQ 500P EW self-protection system and its signal intelligence collection system, which analyzes the activity, capabilities and intentions of other actors (SIGINT) in its pod version. During this event, Indra signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with EDGE Group, a company with which it currently maintains a joint venture, PULSE NOVA, to explore and expand its portfolio, including advanced electronic warfare within the existing solutions offering, currently focused mainly on radars. Indra will also be present at another key regional trade show, the World Defense Show held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
