Short version The Army is moving from concept and design into prototype build and limited fielding across several layered EW programs. Expect a stepped tempo in 2025 where software centric enablers and vehicle/manpack EW kits hit soldier touch points and operational demonstrations, while larger echelon systems proceed through prototype builds and demonstrations.

Where we stand as of August 6, 2024 Over the last two years the Army has reconstituted a family of terrestrial EW systems aimed at brigade through corps levels. The Brigade Combat Team manpack effort has been prototyped and awarded for rapid fielding with an initial unit issue planned in 2024, setting the pattern for follow on deliveries into 2025. At higher echelons the Terrestrial Layer System Echelons Above Brigade program moved through OTA concept phases and system design reviews and is scheduled to enter prototype build and demonstrations in 2025. That work is intended to show how extended range sensing and electronic attack will integrate with division and corps targeting and fires. The Army has also prioritized EW command and control modernization. The EW Planning and Management Tool has been in the field and is being modernized into EWPMT-X with an initial minimum viable product planned for delivery in 2025. That software push matters because hardware prototypes will be operationally useful only if they can be modeled, tasked, and deconflicted across the enterprise. At the same time the service is pushing spectrum situational awareness and complementary systems such as S2AS toward rapid prototyping in fiscal 2025, with the intent of closing the sensing to effects loop. Expect prototypes to feed the EWPMT-X and TLS family during 2025 demonstrations.

What to expect from deliveries in calendar 2025

  • Volume and cadence: Deliveries in 2025 will be uneven. Manpack units and other low SWaP systems that already completed soldier touch points are likely to see the earliest and largest initial fielding quantities. Larger vehicle and echelon systems will be delivered as limited prototypes for operational demonstrations rather than full unit sets.
  • Focus on integration, not mass fielding: The Army is treating 2025 as a year to validate integration into brigade and higher command posts, refine signals of interest, and tune deconfliction rules. Expect more units to receive prototype kits for evaluation than permanent fielding in 2025.
  • Software first, hardware enabled: EWPMT-X and allied decision support releases are scheduled to deliver minimum viable capabilities in 2025. Prototype hardware that cannot interoperate with these tools will be tightly constrained in usefulness. Emphasis will therefore be on software interfaces, data models, and rapid software updates tied to prototype hardware deliveries.
  • Demonstrations will drive procurement choices: Operational demonstrations during 2025 will be the primary input for whether a prototype moves to production or requires a redesign cycle. Expect iterative procurement language and follow on OTA or MTA actions rather than big block buys.

Technical and tactical implications

  • Power and mobility remain limiting factors. Vehicle mounted suites with large power demands will see slower delivery cycles because they require vehicle integration, power management, and thermal solutions. Manpack and modular Stryker or S-vehicle installs will be the first to scale.
  • Signal management and deconfliction will be the gating factor. As more emitters are introduced to the battlespace from friendly systems, the need for centralized planning and automated deconfliction increases. EWPMT-X and its data feeds must be ready and validated in 2025 to prevent fratricide and inadvertent EMI that could degrade mission command.
  • Effects attribution and authorities will shape use. Prototype deliveries will include electronic attack capabilities that require clear rules of engagement, especially in multinational or congested spectrum environments. Expect doctrine and ROE work to proceed in parallel with technical deliveries.

Risks and likely friction points in 2025

  • Logistics and sustainment for prototypes will be immature. Early units will need robust contractor support packages, spare parts, and software update chains. Plan for higher mean time to repair during initial fielding.
  • Interoperability with legacy systems will surface unexpected issues. Prototype kits will interact with radios, datalinks, and C2 systems that vary by theater. Expect firmware and interface firmware patches during 2025 trials.
  • Spectrum deconfliction in dense environments will be contested. Prototype electronic attack or high power mitigation efforts must be carefully coordinated to avoid degrading friendly sensing and communications. EWPMT-X tied to S2AS feeds is the Army’s mitigation approach, but that capability will still be maturing in 2025.

Advice for industry and integrators

  • Prioritize open architectures and well documented APIs. The Army will reward systems that integrate cleanly into EWPMT-X and TLS data models during 2025 demonstrations.
  • Design for maintainability in austere conditions. Rapidly fielded prototypes will be sustained in forward locations with limited depot access. Low SWaP and modular replacement parts reduce lifecycle headaches.
  • Emphasize testing against representative signals of interest. Army soldier touch points and operational demonstrations are driven by how a prototype performs against realistic emitters and contested spectrum. Vendors need to show repeatable, measurable effects under test conditions.

What operators should prepare for

  • Training will be as important as kit. Units receiving prototypes in 2025 will require hands on training to employ EW effects safely and effectively. Training plus contractor embedded support will be the norm for early adopters.
  • Expect incremental capability updates. Prototype fielding in 2025 will not be a one and done. Software releases and hardware retrofits will be common as lessons from demonstrations are incorporated. Plan for periodic downtime during updates.

Bottom line 2025 will be an integration and demonstration year for Army EW. The initial manpack and low SWaP deliveries set the early tempo while larger TLS prototypes and EWPMT-X software reach for operational maturity. If you are building, integrating, or operating EW kits, focus on interoperability with EWPMT-X, robust logistics for prototypes, and realistic testing against contested signals. Those three areas will decide which prototypes transition to production in the years that follow.