This blog is based on Frost & Sullivan’s recent analysis, Growth Opportunities in the US Electronic Warfare Industry, FY2025– FY2030, authored by lead expert Shreya Khakurel from the Aerospace & Defense Practice Area.
Executive Summary
US electromagnetic warfare (EW) investment is placing greater weight on adaptable, integrated capabilities as contested electromagnetic environments and drone threats increase operational demand. With 62.4% of FY2026 funding directed to research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E), development-led activity is gaining commercial importance. Open-architecture requirements are also widening supplier participation, while testing, edge EW, and counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) capabilities are creating distinct growth pathways through FY2030.
Key Takeaways:
- RDT&E is widening routes to market: Higher development spending increases the relevance of software, processing, and integration providers before programs reach production scale.
- Open architectures are expanding supplier access: Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) requirements create clearer roles for specialist software and subsystem providers within larger EW programs.
- C-UAS carries the strongest near-term opportunity: Demand is expanding supplier positions across sensing, adaptive electromagnetic attack (EA), and edge processing. EA as a C-UAS effector offers a more sustainable approach to countering large swarms of drones than expensive kinetic effectors.
- Live, virtual, constructive (LVC) testing is gaining more commercial relevance: Validation gaps in adaptive and cognitive EW are strengthening opportunities across simulation, certification, and test support. LVC testing is gaining value as a route to fielding: LVC environments address validation gaps for adaptive and cognitive EW, and as an alternative to expensive live range testing.
What Is Electromagnetic Warfare?
Electronic warfare brings together electronic attack, electronic protection, and electronic support to disrupt adversary systems, protect friendly operations, and detect activity across the electromagnetic spectrum.
Multi-segment activities account for 47.5% of FY2026 funding, reflecting greater investment in programs that span several EW functions rather than isolated capabilities. According to Frost & Sullivan, this pattern reinforces the role of cross-domain architectures that bring attack, protection, and support together within broader mission systems.
US EW Spending Is Reshaping Competitive Positioning
US EW investment is moving differently across military departments and capability segments. The US Navy retains the largest share of FY2026 funding, while the US Army and US Air Force record significant increases tied to multi-segment programs. FY2025 contract awards also remain highly concentrated, with the top five prime contractors accounting for 77.9% of awarded value.
What Are Defense Experts Seeing Next in Electromagnetic Warfare?
Hear from Frost & Sullivan experts as they unpack how electromagnetic warfare, cognitive capabilities, and integrated defense architectures are shaping the next phase of air and missile defense.
Image Description: US electromagnetic warfare infographic highlighting defense investment, supplier positioning, C-UAS capabilities, edge EW, LVC testing, and key growth opportunities through FY2030.
Strategic Imperatives Shaping US Electromagnetic Warfare Growth
- Transformative Megatrends: MOSA is embedding modularity and open interfaces into EW procurement. Interoperable architectures give specialist and non-traditional suppliers clearer positions within larger programs, particularly where software, subsystems, and integration capabilities can complement established platforms.
- Geopolitical Chaos: Recent conflicts have reinforced the value of layered jamming, spoofing, and signal disruption across contested electromagnetic spectrum operations. Rapid upgrades to in-service platforms, along with portable and edge-deployed EW, are extending commercial activity beyond new platform programs into modernization and mission-specific capability integration.
- Disruptive Technologies: Low-cost drones and high-volume threats are exposing limits in conventional EW systems. Adaptive, software-defined capabilities that combine wider spectrum coverage with automated multi-target response are gaining greater relevance, strengthening positions in next-generation EW development.
Have you assessed how open architectures and modernization priorities are changing your position in the EW ecosystem?
Growth Drivers Expanding EW Demand, Restraints Shaping Program Delivery
US EW investment is being pulled forward by operational requirements, but the pace of deployment remains uneven. More complex signal environments, tactical EW adoption, and growing exposure of space assets are supporting capability development. Together, these factors show where capability demand is strengthening and where program execution remains exposed.
| Growth Factor | Evidence | Business Implication |
| Complex electromagnetic environments | Greater signal density is increasing the importance of automated signal detection, classification, and identification. | AI-enabled processing and edge capabilities are extending supplier roles into software, algorithms, and mission-level integration. |
| Tactical EW deployment | The US Army is extending EW capabilities to brigade and lower tactical maneuver levels. | Vehicle-mounted, dismounted, and compact EW systems create additional opportunities beyond traditional large platform programs. |
| Space asset protection | Vulnerability to jamming is increasing attention on communications, navigation, and intelligence functions in space. | Spectrum management and rapidly reprogrammable capabilities are gaining greater relevance within military and dual-use space programs. |
| Semiconductor supply pressure | A 25% tariff on advanced logic semiconductors adds to component cost and lead-time pressures. | Hardware availability can influence program economics, delivery schedules, and the ability to scale production. |
Contract Awards Reflect Different Supplier Positions: FY2025 awards illustrate how contract value is distributed across the EW ecosystem. RTX received a $590.8 million US Navy award for Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band ship sets for the EA-18G Growler aircraft, while Boeing received $615.8 million for the Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System for the F-15 fighter. Lockheed Martin received $551.0 million for the AN/BLQ-10 submarine EW systems, while BlueHalo (now part of AeroVironment) received a $500 million Air Force RDT&E award through UES Inc. related to electromagnetic spectrum effects.
The pattern separates large procurement programs from development-led activity. Established primes retain significant positions in platform programs, while RDT&E and specialized capability requirements support additional roles for technology providers across the supply chain. Commercial opportunity therefore varies by capability area, contract structure, and program maturity.
How well is your organization positioned to capitalize on the EW programs and capability areas attracting investment?
Top Three Growth Opportunities Expanding US EW Capability
Growth potential is concentrating around three areas where current EW capabilities face clear operational gaps. Each carries a 1-to-3-year timeline, with C-UAS representing the largest five-year opportunity.
- LVC Modeling and Simulation for T&E
LVC environments provide more realistic testing of adaptive waveforms, spoofing, coordinated jamming, and other complex electromagnetic conditions that for various reasons, cannot be done on live air ranges. They also reduce dependence on costly open-range testing.
Business implication: High-fidelity simulation and threat emulation strengthen supplier positions across EW validation, certification, and testing services. The five-year opportunity is estimated at $100 million to $500 million.
- Edge EW Solutions
Edge EW brings sensing, processing, and decision-making closer to forward-deployed platforms. Modular architectures also support electromagnetic support, electromagnetic attack, and reprogramming through more flexible system configurations.
Business implication: Software, processing, and integration specialists gain additional entry routes into portable and platform-level EW programs. The five-year opportunity is estimated at $100 million to $500 million.
- Counter-unmanned Aerial System (C-UAS) EW Capability
Drone swarms, low-cost platforms, and autonomous navigation are increasing demand for more responsive counter-UAS EW. Passive detection, adaptive attack, and faster threat classification form the core capability requirement.
Business implication: C-UAS offers the largest identified growth opportunity, at more than $500 million to $1 billion over five years, widening commercial space across sensing, edge processing, and adaptive countermeasures.
📖 Explore how Counter-UAS technologies are advancing detection, disruption, and airspace defense.
Future Outlook and Strategic Priorities for US Electromagnetic Warfare Through FY2030
Through FY2030, commercial value in EW will extend beyond initial system delivery. Faster changes in threat waveforms and operating conditions will make reprogramming, validation, integration, and capability upgrades recurring parts of the program lifecycle. Modernization therefore remains commercially relevant alongside new-system development.
According to Frost & Sullivan, long-term supplier relevance will increasingly reflect continuity across this lifecycle, from development and testing through fielding and subsequent refresh. Positions that support repeatable upgrades across in-service and new platforms can carry more durable value as electromagnetic requirements continue to evolve.
Have you identified which emerging EW opportunities can strengthen your growth pipeline through FY2030?
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FAQs
What is driving growth in the US electromagnetic warfare industry?
The US electromagnetic warfare (EW) industry is being shaped by more complex electromagnetic environments, drone proliferation, tactical EW deployment, and greater demand for integrated capabilities that can respond to changing threats.
How much is the US investing in electromagnetic warfare (EW)?
The Department of Defense requested approximately $2.23 billion for EW-related activities in FY2026, up 14.7% from FY2025. Most of the funding is directed toward research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E), reflecting continued investment in next-generation capability development.
What are the main types of electromagnetic warfare systems?
Electromagnetic warfare systems generally span electromagnetic attack, electromagnetic protection, and electromagnetic support. These capabilities cover offensive electromagnetic effects, protection of friendly systems, and detection or identification of adversary emitters.
How is software defined radio used in electromagnetic warfare (EW)?
Software defined radio supports flexible sensing, signal processing, and electronic attack functions through software-based updates. Its role is particularly relevant in edge EW, where capabilities may need to be reconfigured closer to the operational environment.
Why is C-UAS a major electromagnetic warfare growth opportunity?
Counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) demand is increasing as low-cost drones, swarms, and autonomous navigation challenge conventional defenses. EW-based approaches expand the response through passive detection, adaptive electronic attack, and faster threat classification.
What is cognitive electromagnetic warfare?
Cognitive electromagnetic warfare uses AI-enabled processing to detect, classify, and respond to changing electromagnetic threats more dynamically. Its development is also increasing the importance of advanced test and evaluation environments.
What is shaping competition in the defense electromagnetic warfare market?
Competition in the defense electromagnetic warfare market reflects contract scale, open architecture compatibility, integration capability, technology depth, and access to modernization and development programs. These factors create different positions for established integrators and specialist suppliers.
What are the leading military EW growth opportunities through FY2030?
Key military EW growth opportunities include LVC Modeling and Simulation for T&E, Edge EW Solutions, and counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) EW Capability. Frost & Sullivan’s Growth Opportunities in the US Electromagnetic Warfare Industry, FY2025–FY2030 identifies C-UAS EW Capability as the largest of the three five-year opportunities.
