BAE Systems is bringing commercial silicon and software-defined RF electronics to smaller drones with its new Shadow EW family, targeting lower-cost, high-volume electronic warfare deployment.
BAE Systems has launched the Shadow EW family, bringing commercial semiconductor-based computing and software-defined electronic warfare (EW) into compact payloads for smaller crewed and uncrewed aircraft. The systems are designed around low size, weight, power and cost (SWaP-C), enabling more affordable platforms to carry sensing, targeting, deception and protection capabilities in contested electromagnetic environments.
The architecture combines commercial microchips, open standards, field-upgradeable hardware and software-defined functions. BAE says this approach can support high-volume production, faster integration and updates as electromagnetic threats evolve.
The family comprises three variants. Shadow EW 100 weighs about 3.27 kg, consumes less than 150 W and covers 70 MHz–6 GHz, using an NVIDIA Jetson Orin NX and Kintex KU15P FPGA. Production is planned for 2027. Shadow EW 120 weighs below 3.18 kg, operates from 5 MHz–6 GHz and consumes less than 150 W, with production planned for 2028. Shadow EW 500 covers 10 MHz–18 GHz, weighs about 3.18 kg and consumes less than 250 W, with production planned for 2029.
BAE plans to manufacture the systems in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with design and software development in Nashua, New Hampshire. No initial customer or integration platform has been announced.
“The modern battlefield is changing at an unprecedented pace and all platforms, regardless of size, require adaptable electronic warfare capabilities to survive,” said Rebecca Cruz, Director, Shadow EW products at BAE Systems. “Shadow EW solutions provide flexible, configurable hardware paired with iterative software updates to counter rapidly evolving threats.”
