Rafael wins NATO contract for advanced Digital Shark Naval Electronic Countermeasure system.

According to a PR published by Rafael on November 10, 2024, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems has secured a contract to equip vessels of a NATO-member navy with its Digital Shark Naval Electronic Countermeasure (ECM) system. This advanced solution, unveiled at Euronaval 2024, is set to enhance NATO naval capabilities, allowing fleets to assert superiority across the electromagnetic spectrum in both defensive and offensive capacities.
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Rafael’s Digital Shark ECM System, revealed at Euronaval 2024, set to enhance NATO naval fleets with electronic warfare capabilities. (Picture source: RAFAEL)

The Digital Shark system is part of Rafael’s latest advancements in naval Electronic Warfare (EW), designed to autonomously detect and counter a wide array of radar threats with unprecedented precision. Utilizing a highly sensitive digital receiver, Digital Shark can identify diverse radar signals, from missile seekers to designation radars. Once a threat is detected, the system immediately deploys a targeted high-power electromagnetic beam to jam the radar’s function, effectively neutralizing it in real-time.

A standout feature of this 3rd Generation Digital Shark system is its integration of an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA), which offers rapid and exact beam steering capabilities. This allows for instantaneous response to threats and maximizes the system’s defensive and offensive effectiveness. Additionally, the incorporation of Digital RF Memory (DRFM) technology further enhances its countermeasure abilities, enabling Digital Shark to create sophisticated decoys and deceptive signals to outmaneuver even advanced radar systems.

Digital Shark’s deployment underscores Rafael's growing portfolio in naval EW and defense solutions, which also includes its C-GEM active decoy system. Together, these capabilities represent a comprehensive EW suite, providing NATO fleets with a tactical edge in increasingly complex maritime threat environments.

Naval Electronic Warfare (EW) is a critical component of modern maritime operations, encompassing the use of electromagnetic spectrum technologies to detect, intercept, and counteract threats. It involves three primary subdivisions: Electronic Attack (EA), Electronic Protection (EP), and Electronic Warfare Support (ES).

Electronic Attack (EA) involves offensive measures to disrupt or degrade enemy electronic systems, such as radar and communications, through jamming or deception techniques. For instance, the U.S. Navy's Next Generation Jammer (NGJ) is designed to replace the aging ALQ-99 system, providing advanced capabilities to counter sophisticated threats.

Electronic Protection (EP) focuses on safeguarding friendly forces from adversary EW activities. This includes implementing measures to ensure the resilience and reliability of one's own electronic systems against jamming or interference. Techniques such as frequency hopping and spread spectrum communications are commonly employed to enhance EP.

Electronic Warfare Support (ES) entails actions to detect, intercept, and identify electromagnetic emissions from potential threats. This intelligence is vital for situational awareness and informs decision-making processes. Modern naval forces utilize sophisticated ES systems to monitor and analyze the electromagnetic environment effectively.

Advancements in naval EW are ongoing, with significant investments in research and development. For example, the Royal Navy is pursuing the Maritime Electronic Warfare Programme (MEWP) to enhance its EW capabilities over the next two decades. Similarly, the U.S. Navy is integrating the Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program (SEWIP) to upgrade its shipboard EW systems.