Valiant Shield 2024 provided a compact, operationally relevant laboratory for experiments in distributed electromagnetic warfare. The exercise reaffirmed that modern EW is no longer limited to single-platform emit and counter routines. Instead it is being rearchitected as a networked, cloud-assisted capability set linking sensors, shooters, and command nodes across wide geography to enable rapid reprogramming and synchronized non-kinetic effects.

What we saw — at a high level

  • Cloud-backed spectrum collaboration. Industry demonstrated an architecture that fused live RF data with edge processing and cloud apps to enable shared situational awareness and over-the-air reprogramming of EW payloads. The demonstration included real-time sharing of RF signatures between Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and multiple payloads operating in Hawaii and San Diego, and remote reprogramming from an offsite terminal.

  • Distributed sensors and comms relays. High altitude balloons instrumented with electromagnetic sensors were launched in support of the exercise, operating as persistent sensing nodes over the Mariana/Guam region. Separately, long endurance group 3 UAS completed extended flights that functioned as communications relays using Link 16 and tactical radio networks to tie balloons, surface vessels, and manned assets together.

  • Small form factor maritime EW. Small EW payloads were integrated on autonomous surface vehicles during the event, demonstrating that maritime unmanned platforms can host meaningful RF sensing and potentially effecting capability when tied into a broader data fabric.

Platforms and capabilities observed

  • DiSCO style distributed EW. The capability shown integrates edge nodes, cloud fusion, and AI/ML-assisted signal processing to accelerate detection and reprogramming cycles. In practice this means an operator or automated system can push waveform changes to remote EW nodes after an observed RF anomaly, shortening the sensor-to-shooter loop. The architecture also emphasized electromagnetic battle management and synchronization of non-kinetic effects across domains.

  • High altitude balloons. The Army Pacific HAB missions used electromagnetic spectrum sensors and radio networking suites to provide persistent maritime domain awareness above 50,000 feet. Coordination with local authorities and air traffic control was part of the deployment plan, reflecting the safety and airspace-management constraints of operating persistent sensors in shared airspace.

  • Long endurance UAS as tactical backbone. Platform Aerospace’s Vanilla UAS executed multi-hour flights and demonstrated communications relay through Link 16 gateways and tactical radio meshes, proving endurance platforms can be effective nodes for spectrum data transport and command distribution in expeditionary scenarios.

Tactical takeaways and risk tradeoffs

1) Speed matters, but secure low-latency links are required. Over-the-air reprogramming and cloud-assisted fusion reduce time from detection to response, but they depend on robust, authenticated, low-latency comms. If the transport is degraded or compromised the advantage becomes a liability.

2) Edge processing is mandatory. Airborne and maritime platforms will operate with intermittent links. Pushing too much reliance to remote cloud processing without capable edge inferencing creates brittle architectures. The exercise demonstrations point toward hybrid edge/cloud designs.

3) Spectrum deconfliction and safety overhead increase with distributed sensors. HABs, long endurance UAS, and surface unmanned vessels sharing spectrum require planned allocation, dynamic deconfliction, and strict flight and maritime coordination to avoid fratricide or unintended interference with civil systems. The Army’s airspace coordination during HAB launches is an operational reminder of that constraint.

4) Cyber and supply chain exposure grows. Cloud-connected EW nodes and remote reprogramming lines expand the attack surface. Authentication, signed waveform bundles, and robust rollback mechanisms must be baked into system designs before fielding this capability at scale.

5) Small platforms scale capability but amplify logistics. Seasats and other small unmanned surface craft can carry effective sensors and be hard to target, but operators must manage power, cooling, maintenance, and waveform storage constraints at scale.

Actionable recommendations for practitioners

  • Prioritize authenticated, minimal-latency links for any over-the-air reprogramming path. Use signed waveform packages and layered authorization that include automatic safe-state fallbacks.

  • Build edge-first signal processing pipelines so platforms retain mission utility during comms outages. Train algorithms on representative, noisy RF environments and validate with realistic fidelity.

  • Implement a formal spectrum deconfliction playbook for mixed civil-military ranges. Coordinate early with FAA and local authorities when planning HAB or long-endurance sorties.

  • Use surrogate testbeds before live range activity. Emulate emissions, attenuate power, and restrict experiments to controlled bands where possible to reduce collateral risk to civilian systems.

Concluding assessment

Valiant Shield 2024 accelerated the integration of distributed EW concepts into operational experiments. The exercise showed how cloud-assisted spectrum collaboration, persistent sensing from balloons and long-endurance UAS, and small maritime EW nodes can be combined into a multi-domain electromagnetic picture. Those demonstrations also made clear the hard engineering and operational problems that remain: resilient comms, secure reprogramming, edge capability, and airspace and spectrum management. The path to operationalizing distributed EW is not a matter of technology alone. It requires doctrine, legal-compliance, range governance, and hardened engineering to make the concept resilient enough for contested environments.