The BriteStorm miniature electronic warfare system enables drones to create radar illusions and jam enemy defense systems.
BriteStorm, developed by Leonardo, is a miniature electronic warfare jamming system designed to be deployed on small drones. It is capable of jamming radar systems and creating radar illusions while remaining cost-effective and adaptable to a variety of platforms. Based on the proven BriteCloud technology, BriteStorm intercepts enemy radar signals, manipulates them, and sends them back to create phantom tracks, disrupting the adversary’s radar detection capabilities. Primarily used for “stand-in” electronic warfare missions, BriteStorm helps protect allied forces by degrading the enemy’s integrated air defense systems (IADS).
BriteStorm: A versatile, affordable electronic warfare system
Designed by Leonardo, BriteStorm stands out for its ability to be integrated onto drones and other airborne platforms. Its small size and relatively low cost make it ideal for “attritable” systems, such as supporting drones or loitering munitions. Leveraging the air-launched decoy technology of BriteCloud, BriteStorm can capture enemy radar emissions, manipulate them, and send back deceptive signals, creating “phantom tracks.” This disrupts enemy radars, generating false returns and errors in detection.
Weighing just 2.5 kg, BriteStorm is slightly heavier than its predecessor BriteCloud but still compact enough to be installed on lightweight drones or platforms. This makes it particularly appealing for stand-in electronic warfare missions, where platforms are sent ahead of the main force to jam enemy air defense systems.
Michael Lea, Vice President of Sales for Electronic Warfare at Leonardo, emphasized that BriteStorm can be mounted on almost any platform with a payload bay and a power source equivalent to a Humvee battery. This highlights the adaptable nature of the technology, which is not limited to advanced fighter jets but can be deployed on simpler platforms, increasing the flexibility of armed forces in the realm of electronic warfare.
Advanced jamming capabilities with DRFM technology
One of BriteStorm’s key strengths lies in its use of Digital Radio Frequency Memory (DRFM) technology, considered the gold standard in electronic jamming. This technology enables the system to precisely record enemy radar signals, manipulate them, and send them back, severely disrupting the situational awareness of adversary forces. By perfectly mimicking enemy radar signals, BriteStorm can create entire fleets of illusory targets, overwhelming radar operators and complicating the prioritization of defense resources.
BriteStorm’s DRFM capabilities derive directly from BriteCloud, which is already in service with several air forces, including on the F-35 stealth fighter. This electronic warfare system is particularly effective against NATO radar bands A to J, covering a wide range of potential threats.
Building on BriteCloud’s proven technology, BriteStorm adds traditional jamming functionalities, such as flooding enemy systems with electronic noise. This provides additional support to allied forces, protecting them from surface-to-air missiles and degrading enemy detection capabilities.
Potential applications of BriteStorm: Protecting and deceiving the enemy
BriteStorm has significant potential for deployment on a variety of platforms, including drones, uncrewed aircraft, and even cruise missiles. These devices could be used to shield manned aircraft by diverting enemy missiles away from the main force or enabling them to penetrate enemy defenses more safely. By stimulating enemy defenses with false targets, BriteStorm facilitates Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) and the destruction of air defense systems.
Additionally, Leonardo sees opportunities to integrate BriteStorm into programs such as the U.S. Army’s Air Launch Effects (ALE) and the U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) initiatives. Discussions with the Royal Air Force (RAF) are already underway, and several tests have been conducted using groups of drones equipped with BriteCloud technology against simulated air defense networks.
This type of system could also be deployed to disrupt other types of radars, such as counter-battery radars used to locate enemy artillery units or coastal radars monitoring ship movements. This opens up new possibilities for BriteStorm beyond conventional electronic warfare missions.
Economic and strategic implications of BriteStorm
From an economic standpoint, BriteStorm represents an affordable solution for electronic warfare missions, making it suitable for “attritable” operations where the loss of the device does not pose significant strategic issues. This flexibility makes it a valuable tool for armed forces seeking to maximize efficiency while minimizing costs.
The development of BriteStorm also reflects a resurgence in the demand for high-intensity electronic warfare capabilities, especially after decades of prioritizing counter-terrorism missions. Today, U.S. military officials regularly discuss the importance of dominating the electromagnetic spectrum in future high-intensity conflicts, particularly in the Pacific region in response to China.
The growing interest in advanced electronic warfare systems like BriteStorm is further reinforced by lessons learned from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, where jamming and disrupting enemy systems have played a key role in military operations. The evolution of tactics and technologies in this area clearly shows that systems like BriteStorm will become essential tools in future combat operations.
BriteStorm is at the forefront of a new generation of miniature electronic warfare systems, allowing armed forces to create radar illusions and effectively shield their units. Versatile, cost-effective, and high-performing, this system addresses the current needs of militaries to dominate the electromagnetic spectrum and conduct sophisticated operations against increasingly complex air defense systems.
War Wings Daily is an independant magazine.