- The 11th Airborne Division conducted electromagnetic warfare and counter-UAS training at JPARC in Alaska, testing systems and tactics in extreme cold weather.
- Soldiers used EW equipment to detect RF signatures, locate UAS command links and assess system performance in Arctic conditions.
The 11th Airborne Division has completed a first-of-its-kind electromagnetic warfare and counter-unmanned aerial system training event in Alaska, bringing together EW Soldiers, UAS operators and industry vendors to test new technology in one of the most demanding environments in the United States.
The two-week exercise took place at the Joint Pacific Alaskan Range Complex (JPARC) near Fort Greely, Alaska, and was conducted in partnership with the Defense Innovation Unit. According to the division, the training centered on how EW and C-UAS systems perform in the Arctic, where freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall challenge both personnel and equipment.
“This [training] was a rare opportunity for our EW teams to work together and see firsthand how UAS systems operate in extreme cold weather,” said 1st Lieutenant Gunnar Moffitt, an EW Platoon Leader with the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 11th Airborne Division. “We were able to detect Radio Frequency (RF) signatures, locate UAS command-and-control links, and assess how our systems perform in freezing temperatures and deep snow. This type of training is critical for preparing our Soldiers to operate in the invisible battlefield of Large-Scale Combat Operations (LSCO).”
Officials said Soldiers used their organic EW systems to observe and analyze the electromagnetic spectrum signatures of various UAS platforms, including their command-and-control links. One of the main objectives was to determine how reliably those systems can identify and locate enemy operators in an Arctic environment.
“EW has been overlooked for the past 20 years, but the ongoing conflict in Ukraine has shown us how critical it is for LSCO,” said Staff Sgt. Clayton Wall, an EW Platoon Sergeant. “EW plays a huge role in modern warfare, and it’s exciting to be on the cutting edge of this technology. We’re not just training; we’re shaping the future of the Army and ensuring we’re ready to win the next war.”
Temperatures at JPARC routinely drop well below freezing, with deep snow across much of the range complex. Soldiers reported that battery life decreased noticeably in the cold, providing what leaders described as important insight for future equipment development and logistics planning.
“This [equipment] gave us the ability to see the invisible battlefield,” Wall said. “By analyzing our systems, we can understand enemy capabilities. This information allows us to advise brigade commanders and gain a tactical advantage in LSCO.”
Throughout the training event, Soldiers examined UAS signatures within the electromagnetic spectrum and verified how effectively their systems could detect, track and counter potential threats. Those observations will be used to inform improvements to future Army EW and C-UAS systems, particularly as the service prepares for operations in the air littoral — the airspace from the surface of the Earth up to 10,000 feet above ground level.
“Electromagnetic warfare is the future of the Army,” Moffitt said. “It’s a field where we can have a real impact, and this training showed us how we can use new equipment to shape the battlefield and make a difference in LSCO.”
The event is part of a broader initiative within the 11th Airborne Division to address capability gaps identified in the Army’s Arctic Strategy, “Regaining Arctic Dominance.” Army officials say that the extreme climate of Alaska provides conditions not found at other U.S. training sites, making it essential for evaluating how advanced sensors, radios, drones and counter-drone systems will operate in future conflicts.
The division’s leadership emphasized that data collected from the exercise will influence tactical planning, system procurement and future EW and C-UAS integration efforts across the force.