Thales has partnered with Autonomous Devices to develop the EW-UAS1, a drone-based electronic warfare solution that combines Thales’ EW payload with a long-range, agile UAV. Delivered as an integrated system, the EW-UAS1 is intended for naval and ground use and is currently in initial testing phases, with refinement and validation scheduled to continue through the year. The effort responds to rising demand for versatile EW tools that operate across multiple domains.
Operationally, the platform provides a dual role: passive detection and situational awareness plus active electronic attack. It can pick up radar emissions — from surveillance radars to weapon guidance systems — localize their source, and either pass that intelligence up the chain or actively jam and manipulate those signals to deny or corrupt enemy targeting. This capability makes it suitable for tasks from wide-area surveillance to direct ship or base protection.
Because it is drone-borne, the EW-UAS1 is highly mobile and can be rapidly retasked to protect different assets or create temporary electronic bubbles in contested areas. Its jamming and deception functions can produce a false radar picture or suppress critical enemy sensors, giving commanders a non-kinetic option to blunt incoming threats and strengthen theater-level electronic defenses.
