Leonardo has introduced Guardian Shield, a next-generation electronic countermeasure (ECM) system designed to enhance the safety of Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams, military personnel, and critical infrastructure.
The system, set to enter service with the British Army in 2025, aims to neutralise radio-controlled explosive threats through advanced electronic surveillance and targeted countermeasures, the company says.
According to Leonardo, Guardian Shield has been developed in the UK and is remotely deployable, either via Remotely Controlled Vehicles (RCVs) or manually by EOD specialists. The system is said to detect, identify, and neutralise potential threats using software-defined radios, which the company claims offer a more precise and adaptable approach compared to older ECM systems that relied on broad-spectrum jamming.
Leonardo, which has supplied EOD countermeasure technology to UK forces since 2012, describes Guardian Shield as a flexible and modular system built on open architecture standards, allowing seamless integration with tactical Cyber and Electromagnetic Activities (CEMA) systems. This capability is expected to enhance interoperability across military and security operations.
Unlike legacy EOD countermeasures, which depended on independent jammer systems, the firm say that Guardian Shield operates with a forward element responsible for electronic surveillance and electronic attack, and a rear element managing command and control. Leonardo states that this end-to-end approach will improve reliability, reduce maintenance costs, and increase adaptability against evolving threats.
The system is said to be compact and lightweight, designed to be transported within existing military vehicles and deployed by standard RCVs. According to the company, its low power requirements and open hardware standards ensure ease of use while maintaining advanced threat detection and countermeasure capabilities across a broad frequency range.
Leonardo says Guardian Shield was developed in collaboration with Team Endure, a consortium of UK-based defence firms, including Comms Audit, Kirintec, Mercury Systems, Lincad, Waymont Consulting, EWS, and Marshall Land Systems. The system is expected to be made available for export, with Leonardo positioning it as a new electronic warfare capability for international military, security, and policing organisations.
Hope this is ULEZ Compliant.
Being serious though, does anyone recognise the buildings ? They sort of remind me of the Nazi era.
How? It is traditional north Italian architecture.
The bloody great big Eagles !
Architecture from a certain point in Italian history.
And Germany.
It’s OK, the humour has been lost once more.