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FTCN Replay: New Coalition Signals Shift in European EW Strategy

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In a recent episode of “From the Crow’s Nest,” host and AOC’s Director of Advocacy and Outreach Ken Miller spoke with Dr. Thomas Withington, an analyst and writer specializing in electronic warfare, military communications, and radar, about significant developments in NATO’s electronic warfare posture. Their conversation highlighted emerging collaborative approaches to spectrum management and lessons from Ukraine that are reshaping how allied nations approach electromagnetic operations.

(Note: The full episode is available exclusively to AOC members and subscribers. Exclusive episodes are released twice a month. To access them and participate in live recordings as part of the virtual audience, become an AOC member at www.crows.org or subscribe for $2.99/month at www.ftcnpodcast.org.)

Europe’s New EW Coalition

A major focus of the discussion was the recent formation of an electronic warfare coalition between Ukraine and countries within NATO. Initially comprising about 11 nations with Germany taking a leadership role, this coalition aims to coordinate EW support for Ukraine while potentially establishing a framework for broader European cooperation.

“It appears to have come out of the discussions that were being held over the weekend regarding European military support for Ukraine,” explained Withington. The coalition will focus on three key areas: “Providing materiel EW equipment to Ukraine, providing the training and mentoring that Ukraine requires or needs in order to continue fighting in the spectrum, and helping develop doctrine and EW policy.”

Withington characterized the initiative as “an acorn from which oak trees could definitely grow,” suggesting it could lead to greater convergence in European EW capabilities across all domains.

Learning from Ukraine

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has accelerated innovation in the electromagnetic spectrum, as the situation has provided companies a chance to test the next iteration of technology for combat.

“There’s a realization that EW development … research, development, production and deployment, so those four parts of the procurement cycle, now really have to happen at the speed of relevance,” Withington said.

The conflict has also led to an understanding that nations need to work together to present a stronger front. Withington continued: “There is some potential to look across the continent and say, ‘Well, we all need these capabilities, we’ve all got to acquire them. So how can we make this cost effective and easy, or as easy as we can do for every nation?’

Operating Without the Spectrum

A significant portion of the conversation addressed the vulnerability of GPS/GNSS systems and the need to develop resilience against their disruption. Recent reports of Iranian jamming of US military systems in the Persian Gulf raised particular concerns for Withington.

“I would assume that those platforms are using something like the M code signal, which notionally is protected against jamming. And if that’s the case and the jamming is still somehow being successful, that is a real cause for concern,” he noted.

He stressed the importance of preparing for operations both with and without reliable positioning systems: “Always assume you’re not going to have the spectrum … you may get it now and again, or your access to it will be greatly truncated.”

Coalition Warfare and Future Relationships

Despite political tensions between the US and Europe, Withington expressed confidence in the enduring nature of military-to-military relationships.

“What I’ve noticed is by and large, from their perspective, it’s very much business as usual. There is still a strong desire to work together,” he said. “The thing I always hear from people in the US military is, ‘Look, we’ll always fight in a coalition. We’re never going to fight on our own.’ And that’s absolutely mirrored the other side of the Atlantic.”

He attributed this stability to “the absolute professionalism of the militaries throughout NATO,” which he continues to be “very, very impressed by.”


AOC EUROPE 2025

Dr. Tom Withington will be honored at the AOC Awards Ceremony on Day 1 of AOC Europe, taking place May 6-8 in Rome, Italy. Then Day 2 of the convention, he will chair a panel discussion on EW Lessons Learnt from the Russo-Ukrainian War.

AOC Europe will also feature a keynote address from Germany’s Commander Malte von Spreckelsen, who has played a key role in the newly formed EW Coalition to support Ukraine.

For more details on the convention and to register, visit AOCEurope.org.

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