As part of its strategy to prioritize the US market for orders, Leonardo UK has introduced BriteStorm, a new lightweight, stand-in jamming system designed for integration with attritable Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and Air Launched Effects (ALE).
Weighing only 2.5 kilograms (5.5 pounds), this Electronic Warfare (EW) airborne countermeasure is engineered to operate ahead of friendly forces, effectively suppressing Integrated Air Defence Systems (IADS). According to Leonardo UK executives, the system has successfully completed flight trials in collaboration with the UK’s Rapid Capabilities Office, a future technologies and test agency. Currently, three US-based test assets are demonstrating BriteStorm’s capabilities to potential customers across the United States.
In a bid to secure industrial agreements for BriteStorm, Leonardo UK has opened discussions with key manufacturers involved in various US Department of Defense programs, including the Air Force’s Combat Collaborative Aircraft (CCA) and the Army’s Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS), both of which focus on integrating advanced technologies into military operations.
Mark Randall, EW campaign manager at Leonardo UK, stated that the development of BriteStorm was driven by market demand for an attritable UAS jamming capability that can strategically operate ahead of allied forces. This innovation aims to provide sophisticated countermeasure techniques rather than relying on conventional “large, expensive, strategic” standoff or escort jamming aircraft positioned behind friendly lines.
“It’s challenging to shift toward a contested environment where assured freedom of maneuver is uncertain. However, that is precisely the goal of BriteStorm,” Randall explained, noting that the system is designed for functionality across all three operational domains.
Leonardo UK confirmed that it has supplied multiple BriteStorm payloads to the UK’s Rapid Capabilities Office, which has successfully conducted flight trials with the system. While specifics regarding the aircraft involved in these tests were not disclosed, Randall mentioned that elements of the UK’s Autonomous Collaborative Platform (ACP) strategy directly link to new EW capabilities, including a mission for Suppression of Enemy Air Defence (SEAD) supported by stand-in jamming and decoy technologies.
Leonardo is focused on establishing a footprint in the US stand-in jammer market. “At present, we have three trial assets in the US that demonstrate BriteStorm to the end-user community, and we are pleased with the growing interest from US prime contractors involved in the FTUAS, CCA, and ALE programs,” stated Michael Lea, VP of Sales EW at Leonardo UK.
Currently, Griffon Aerospace and Textron Systems are competing to provide a replacement for the RQ-7B Shadow UAS under the FTUAS initiative, while General Atomics and Anduril were contracted in April to build the first tranche of CCA prototypes.
BriteStorm has evolved from Leonardo’s BriteCloud active expendable decoy, which is set for integration with US F-35 fifth-generation aircraft, and employs Digital Radio Frequency Memory (DRFM) technology. Unlike its predecessor that focuses on disrupting incoming missile radar guidance, BriteStorm is designed to suppress ground-based radars.
Utilizing mission-tested DRFM technology, BriteStorm evaluates the electronic warfare threat environment and selects the most relevant countermeasure techniques. The system can create electronic “noise” or confuse enemy radars by emitting false fighter jet signatures, thereby overwhelming and suppressing potential threats.
As part of a “capability spiral” for BriteCloud, Leonardo plans to add a “live update” function to enhance jamming techniques via communication links. A standard BriteStorm payload comprises platform-specific antennas, transmit-receive modules, and the Miniature Technique Generator developed by Leonardo.
The BriteStorm system is produced at Leonardo UK’s EW research and manufacturing hub located in Luton, England, underscoring the company’s commitment to advancing electronic warfare capabilities for modern military applications.
