In the modern battlespace, the front line is not always visible. It runs through the electromagnetic spectrum, where small, fast and low-flying threats can breach borders, perimeters and shorelines with little warning. For the forces charged with defending against these threats, success increasingly depends on turning radio frequency (RF) activity into usable operational awareness to identify them early.
That is driving demand for digital electronic support measures that provide persistent passive sensing over wide areas and connect data across operators, systems and partners. In many operational scenarios, forces need capabilities that can remain on station, observe continuously and detect non-cooperative emitters while maintaining awareness across the mission. This need is especially urgent in contested littoral operating environments, where operators must track emitters over time, verify contacts, support emissions control and monitor elusive targets.
A New Standard for ESM
L3Harris is helping define the next era of digital electronic support measures (ESMs) with ReconneX™, an ESM and electronic warfare system built to give operators faster, more integrated awareness across the electromagnetic environment. L3Harris is helping move the industry toward a more modern approach to sensing, understanding and acting in the electromagnetic spectrum.
“ReconneX turns passive sensing into faster, clearer mission insight,” said Shawn Miller, President, Spectrum Superiority, Communications & Spectrum Dominance, L3Harris. “Traditional systems were designed for a different operational reality. Today’s missions demand the ability to monitor increasingly dense radio frequency environments, identify threats in real time, support distributed operations and share relevant information across platforms and users without delay.”
ReconneX provides a digital ESM foundation that can be applied across different missions and domains. It uses a common architecture that can be configured to fit maritime, coastal, land and unmanned operations while supporting a more connected view of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Building a Shared Picture Across the Mission
In operations, sensors feed a shared picture of activity across the spectrum.
“ReconneX is designed to fuse passive RF detections from across the network into more persistent tracks and sharper geolocation, then deliver that awareness directly to operators and mission systems,” said Patrick Creighton, Vice President, Electronic Warfare Division, Spectrum Superiority, Communications & Spectrum Dominance, L3Harris. “Commanders gain an earlier and clearer understanding of EW activity in their area, while the force maintains passive awareness across the command and control.”
That ability to connect sensing, processing and action is what makes digital architecture so important. By linking multiple sensors, operators can improve tracking continuity, strengthen situational awareness and build greater confidence in what they are seeing. It establishes ESM as a connected, mission-level capability built for modern operations.
ReconneX also integrates with the architectures customers already operate. That allows forces to add persistent spectrum awareness to existing networks and systems, then expand coverage as mission needs grow. The result is a faster path from requirement to capability and an approach to modernization that can evolve with the threat.
From Sensing to Decision Advantage
When combined with Distributed Spectrum Collaboration and Operations (DiSCO™)-enabled connectivity, operators can translate spectrum awareness into faster operational decisions. Information can be shared more efficiently across connected systems and users, improving interoperability and accelerating access to mission-relevant insight. The result is a stronger and more integrated approach to using spectrum intelligence across the mission.
“Today’s mission sets require a faster, clearer understanding of activity in the electromagnetic environment,” said Miller. “Whether supporting maritime surveillance, border security, counter-UAS or force protection, the goal remains the same: helping operators detect, monitor and respond to threats with greater confidence.”
The future of electronic support measures is digital, connected, persistent and multi-domain. ReconneX is built for that future. It gives forces a modern path to deeper awareness, stronger interoperability and mission performance that adapts as fast as the electromagnetic spectrum changes.
