New Leonardo jammer can create fleets of ‘ghost’ jets

Leonardo has introduced its latest electronic warfare (EW) system, BriteStorm, aimed at enhancing air defence suppression capabilities.

The system was unveiled on October 14, 2024, and is designed to provide armed forces with a new tool for stand-in jamming, offering greater protection for both crewed and uncrewed platforms during military operations.

BriteStorm is an evolution of Leonardo’s BriteCloud technology, an Expendable Active Decoy (EAD) used to disrupt radio frequency (RF) missiles.

Unlike BriteCloud, which acts as a last-resort defence mechanism, BriteStorm is designed to operate earlier in a mission, disrupting adversary radar and air defence systems before they can engage with friendly forces. According to Mark Randall, Campaign Manager for Electronic Warfare at Leonardo, “Platforms installed with a BriteStorm payload can deploy ahead to create confusion, so that enemy Integrated Air Defence Systems (IADS) are unable to detect, track, and attempt to engage friendly assets.”

The system utilises Leonardo’s Miniature Techniques Generator (MTG), paired with various antennas and Transmit Receive Modules (TRMs), allowing it to be integrated onto a wide range of platforms, including uncrewed systems.

This provides flexibility and reduces the need for larger, more powerful systems traditionally used for stand-off jamming operations. Andrew Ingram, Head of Capability for Electronic Warfare at Leonardo, explained that the stand-in jamming approach reduces the need for high-power systems, making it more suitable for closer operations.

BriteStorm’s digital radio frequency memory (DRFM) technology enables it to employ a variety of electronic warfare techniques, such as creating “ghost” signatures of aircraft or jamming enemy systems with electronic noise. This aims to reduce the effectiveness of enemy IADS by creating confusion and disrupting their ability to track and engage with real threats.

Developed at Leonardo’s electronic warfare facility in Luton, UK, BriteStorm has already undergone live trials as part of its development. Its ability to be integrated onto multiple platforms is expected to offer flexibility for armed forces, providing options for both current and future missions.

The system’s design allows it to be deployed using lower-cost uncrewed platforms, reducing the risks associated with using larger, strategic assets.