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Modern warfare is evolving rapidly, with conflicts extending beyond traditional battlefields into the cyber, space, and electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) domains. To maintain superiority, the U.S. Air Force is accelerating efforts to enhance its Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS)—a core component of the Pentagon’s Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control (CJADC2) strategy. The objective is clear: seamlessly integrate air, land, sea, space, cyber, and EMS capabilities into a unified network that enhances battlefield awareness, enables synchronized operations, and degrades adversary capabilities.
Recognizing this need, the Air Force has issued a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) calling for industry contributions in multi-domain sensor advancements, cyber-electromagnetic activities (CEMA), and next-generation command and control (C2) network integration. The initiative seeks to improve real-time connectivity between manned and unmanned platforms, enhance electronic warfare (EW) capabilities, and enable multi-domain decision dominance.
This article explores the technical requirements, capability enhancements, and future implications of the Air Force’s pursuit of multi-domain sensor architectures and electronic warfare technologies.
Technical Aspects of Multi-Domain Sensor Architectures and Electronic Warfare
Multi-Domain Sensor Networks for Persistent Surveillance
As peer adversaries develop advanced anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) strategies, the U.S. Air Force must deploy multi-domain sensor networks that provide persistent, real-time ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance). Future sensor systems must detect and track hypersonic threats, stealth aircraft, and maritime targets while differentiating between friendly and enemy assets with high precision. This requires AI-enhanced sensor fusion, where data from airborne, space-based, maritime, and ground ISR assets is processed and correlated in real time.
Additionally, traditional airborne ISR assets, such as AWACS and JSTARS, are becoming increasingly vulnerable to enemy jamming and kinetic attacks. To counter this, the Air Force is exploring non-traditional ISR solutions, including distributed sensor networks, low-orbit space-based ISR, autonomous UAV swarms, and ground-based radar systems that can provide resilient and redundant battlefield awareness. The Universal Command and Control Interface (UCI) is being prioritized to enable seamless sensor integration across diverse platforms and domains.
Cyber-Electromagnetic Warfare (CEMA) for Multi-Domain Operations
Electronic warfare is no longer confined to jamming enemy radars—it has expanded into cyber-electromagnetic activities (CEMA) that allow forces to deny, degrade, and disrupt enemy command, control, communications, computers, cyber, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C5ISR) networks. AI-driven adaptive spectrum warfare will enable real-time jamming, spoofing, and deception operations that compromise enemy decision-making.
At the same time, U.S. forces must fortify their own electromagnetic resilience against adversary electronic attacks. Emerging AI-enabled cognitive EW systems will autonomously detect, classify, and counter enemy jamming and cyber intrusions in real time, ensuring secure C2 communications across contested domains. These systems must integrate seamlessly with fighter jets, unmanned systems, satellites, and cyber assets to create a multi-layered EMS dominance strategy.
Enhancing Multi-Domain Capabilities for Future Combat Operations
Integrating Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) with ABMS
One of the most critical advancements in airpower is manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T), where autonomous drones operate as robotic wingmen alongside piloted aircraft. The Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) initiative envisions swarms of AI-enabled autonomous UAVs executing ISR, electronic warfare, and strike missions, all while being seamlessly integrated into the ABMS network. These drones will support F-35s, B-21 bombers, and the Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter, providing additional sensors and weapon systems to extend reach and survivability.
To ensure effectiveness, the ABMS architecture must support real-time, low-latency data exchange between manned and unmanned assets. Advanced AI-driven battle management software will synchronize sensor feeds, prioritize threats, and autonomously coordinate engagements across air, land, sea, space, and cyber domains.
AI-Driven Decision Superiority in Multi-Domain Warfare
Future conflicts will demand instantaneous decision-making across multi-domain operations (MDO). AI-powered battle management systems will process ISR data in real time, automatically detect and classify threats, and recommend the best countermeasures to commanders. These AI-enhanced systems will also predict enemy maneuvers, optimizing force deployments to counter emerging threats before they materialize.
Additionally, networked weapons will enable autonomous engagement across a distributed battlespace, allowing kinetic and non-kinetic weapons to operate in a coordinated, synchronized manner. These systems will leverage cloud-based AI decision aids, ensuring that the right effectors—whether electronic, cyber, or kinetic—are deployed at the right time to maximize combat effectiveness.
Building a Resilient, Interoperable Multi-Domain Network
A key requirement for future Air Force operations is the ability to rapidly integrate new technologies into a unified battle network. The adoption of modular, open-architecture designs will ensure that emerging ISR, EW, and AI systems can be integrated with existing platforms without requiring costly overhauls. Secure, high-bandwidth, multi-domain data links will also be critical to ensuring that forces can communicate across contested environments without risk of detection or disruption.
To achieve this, the Air Force is working toward cross-service and allied interoperability by adopting standardized C2 protocols, machine-to-machine data-sharing frameworks, and secure cloud-based networks. This will enable seamless multi-domain operations in joint and coalition warfare, ensuring that U.S. and allied forces can collaborate efficiently in high-threat environments.
Strategic Implications and Industry Collaboration
The Air Force’s push for advanced sensor architectures and electronic warfare represents a significant shift toward AI-driven, multi-domain battle management. The integration of next-generation ISR, electronic warfare, and AI-based decision support tools will redefine the tempo of modern warfare, allowing the U.S. military to operate at machine speed.
With adversaries investing heavily in advanced EMS capabilities, electronic warfare has become a top priority for the Air Force. The development of robust electronic attack and defense solutions will ensure that U.S. forces can counteract enemy jamming, spoofing, and cyber intrusions. Industry partnerships will be crucial in accelerating the development and deployment of these technologies.
However, the complexity of multi-domain integration requires extensive industry collaboration. The Air Force’s two-step BAA process invites vendors to submit concept papers, with promising proposals advancing to contract awards. The initiative focuses on technologies at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3 or higher, ensuring that solutions can be rapidly fielded and deployed. The Air Force’s BAA encourages defense contractors, technology firms, and AI developers to contribute innovative solutions that will enhance U.S. and allied military capabilities.
As peer adversaries invest heavily in AI-driven warfare, electromagnetic spectrum operations, and cyber capabilities, the U.S. must stay ahead through continuous innovation and adaptive warfare strategies. Companies specializing in AI, electronic warfare, cyber operations, sensor fusion, and secure communications have a unique opportunity to contribute to the future of multi-domain warfare.
Conclusion: Shaping the Future of Multi-Domain Battle Management
The U.S. Air Force’s vision for multi-domain sensor architectures and electronic warfare is a critical step in shaping the future of battle management. By leveraging AI, networked ISR, cyber-electromagnetic warfare, and autonomous systems, the Air Force aims to dominate the modern battlespace across air, land, sea, space, cyber, and EMS domains.
The ABMS initiative, supported by CJADC2 and industry collaboration, will enable real-time battlefield awareness, synchronized operations, and enhanced decision-making—ensuring that U.S. and allied forces maintain dominance in future conflicts.
As warfare becomes increasingly AI-driven and network-centric, defense companies and technology innovators must seize this opportunity to develop cutting-edge solutions that will define the next era of combat operations.
References and Resources also include:
https://defensescoop.com/2024/04/23/air-force-abms-cyber-electromagnetic-sensors/
