STEADFAST DUEL has established itself as NATO’s capstone computer-assisted command post exercise for testing operational-level command and control under realistic, multi-domain stressors. The 2024 iteration made the format and priorities clear: large-scale CAX/CPX work, synthetic scenarios that deliberately fold in cyberspace and space issues, and an emphasis on interoperability and resilience. That history sets useful baseline expectations for the 2025 event.

From an electronic warfare perspective, there are three predictable themes to watch for when STEADFAST DUEL returns in 2025: contested electromagnetic spectrum operations, C2 resilience and cross-domain effects integration, and more sophisticated synthetic training that stresses human-machine workflows.

1) Contested electromagnetic spectrum operations will be front and center Expect the exercise scenario to deliberately produce congested and contested spectrum layers. JWC scenarios are built to cover the full set of operational domains and to inject modern warfare threads such as anti-access/area denial, hybrid actions and cyber effects into the training background. That design naturally pushes planners to include SIGINT cueing, EW suppression and EM spectrum management as primary staff problems. Exercise players will be forced to trade-off ISR collection, EW employment and force protection in time-constrained decisions.

Tactically, watch for simulated GPS denial and degraded datalinks as a means to force alternate positioning, navigation and timing solutions and to evaluate local spectrum deconfliction tactics. From a capability angle, modern CAX/CPX environments let commanders measure the impact of simulated jamming on coalition routing, targeting timelines and sustainment. Expect assessment of both offensive EW syndicates and defensive measures such as frequency agility, anti-jam PNT and resilient waveforms.

2) Command, control and resilience testing will stress integrated EW-cyber approaches NATO’s push toward a digitally enabled, multi-domain operating model makes resilient C2 a central exercise objective. The Alliance’s digital transformation strategy and MDO work emphasize data sharing, a digital backbone and interoperable architectures. Those priorities translate into exercise tasks that test how EW and cyber effects are coordinated, controlled and attributed in a multinational environment. Planners will evaluate whether headquarters can maintain battle rhythm and decision superiority when key sensors or comms paths are degraded.

Practically speaking, this will mean experimentation with layered resilience concepts: alternate command nodes, cross-domain sensing to reconstitute degraded tracks, and measures to preserve mission assurance under electronic attack. For EW teams, that creates a demand signal for standards-based interfaces, sharable electro-magnetic picture constructs and faster SIGINT-to-shooter timelines.

3) Synthetic training will increasingly test human-machine and doctrine integration JWC scenario design and recent JWC-directed activities show continued investment in synthetic environments that span tactical to operational problems. That synthetic approach lets exercise control inject complex, multi-domain cascades at scale without fielding every asset live. For EW, that is a double-edged sword: you get repeatable, measurable test cases for spectrum effects, but you also need robust modelling fidelity to make EW simulation meaningful.

A key thing to watch is how EW models are parameterized in the synthetic environment. Are jamming footprints and receiver susceptibilities modeled with sufficient fidelity to stress real tactics and systems? Are propagation and antenna effects handled well enough to produce usable trade spaces for planners? If the exercise replicates realistic EMS physics and integrates SIGINT and cyber timelines, then lessons will be directly translatable to procurement and TTP development.

What this means for EW practitioners and engineers

  • Focus on observable outputs. Public releases and after action themes tend to highlight interoperability gaps, resilience shortfalls and requirements for data architectures. Track those first.
  • Expect calls for better spectrum management tooling and shared EM pictures. Industry and national labs that can demonstrate scalable, standards-aligned EMS management tools are likely to get attention.
  • Study layered resilience and alternate PNT options. Exercises that simulate GPS denial expose real weaknesses in logistics and ISR chains; documenting practical mitigations will remain high value.
  • Pay attention to modelling fidelity. If synthetic EW injects unrealistic effects, the exercise will generate misleading conclusions. Analysts who can validate model fidelity will be valuable to commands and acquisition authorities.

Legal and ethical notes for hobbyists and small teams STEADFAST series outcomes often drive public interest in EW techniques. Be mindful that real-world EW experimentation is tightly regulated. Civilian experimenters should avoid any activity that emits in restricted bands or intentionally disrupts authorized communications. Use passive monitoring, licensed test ranges, or lab simulations to explore EW concepts safely and legally.

Bottom line Based on the JWC’s recent exercise record and NATO’s continued emphasis on multi-domain operations and digital transformation, STEADFAST DUEL 2025 should be another rigorous stress test for how NATO integrates EW into operational decision cycles. The items to watch are realistic spectrum contestation in the scenario, the fidelity of EW modelling in synthetic environments, and the exercise-derived push toward resilient C2 and interoperable EM situational awareness. For EW engineers and hobbyists the exercise will reveal the practical gaps that matter most to operational users, and those gaps will be the best guide for useful experimentation and capability development over the next 12 to 24 months.